Bringing It All Together: Future-Ready in Action
The Future-Ready Facilities Plan is not a stand-alone initiative. It is a direct extension of PPS’s five-year strategic plan to put Students First Always, in All Ways. Implementing the plan is essential to achieving priority student outcomes while creating opportunity and access for every child in a way that is fiscally sound and sustainable.
To help families see this connection clearly, PPS will ensure that all communication touchpoints carry a consistent name and visual identity This makes it easy for families and community members to recognize Future-Ready updates as important information they need to know.
These communication touchpoints will include:
Quickexplainerson topicssuch as“Why Future-Ready?,” transition supports, modernized classrooms, and sustainability upgrades
SHORT VIDEOS (60-90 SECONDS) S
INFOGRAPHICS
Visual guidessuch as“Timeline at a Glance,”“FutureReady bythe Numbers,” and graphics highlighting magnet offerings and specialized learning spaces
Social Media Explainers FAQ
Bite-sized poststhat answercommon questions, spotlight cost savings, highlight new program opportunities, and celebratefamilytraditionsthat will continue in new schools
Regularly updated on the PPSwebsiteto address concerns and providestraightforward answers
By consistently packaging updates under one recognizable campaign identity, PPS will reduce confusion, build trust, and make it simple for families to follow progress and know exactly where to look for accurate information.
Engagement, Outreach, Communications
engagementandoutreachstrategies
Strong communication must be paired with meaningful engagement Families and community members need not only information, but also real opportunities to ask questions, share their perspectives, and shape how changes unfold. PPS is committed to creating spaces for dialogue, building trusted relationships, and ensuring every family feels supported during this transition. Engagement and outreach will take place at multiple levels from large community conversations to intimate school-based listening sessions, from broad media outreach to personalized support through Parent Ambassadors Each of these strategies is designed to meet families where they are, reduce barriers to participation, and show that their voices matter in building a Future-Ready PPS Parent involvement, engagement, and empowerment are important to a successful transition to the PPS Future-Ready Facilities Plan As the District moves forward with changes designed to strengthen educational opportunities and create sustainable schools, the voices and partnership of families are essential.
School Community Kickoffs
To ensure families and students feel welcomed, prepared, and excited for the transition to their new schools, PPS will host “Welcome to Your Future-Ready School” Kickoff Nights in the spring, followed by orientations before the first day of school.
In partnership with school leaders, the District is also working with each school community to identify and strengthen their individual school brand highlighting what makes every Future-Ready School unique This work will help ensure that each school’s identity, programs, and culture are clearly communicated and celebrated throughout the transition process.
These events will feature student ambassadors, school tours, and family resource tables, creating an atmosphere of hospitality while showcasing each school’s readiness.
To amplify the positive energy, the District will highlight these community moments through media coverage and social media posts, ensuring families, staff, and the broader Pittsburgh community share in celebrating the start of a Future-Ready journey.
community
Engagement, Outreach, Communications
Community Hubs:
Community Sponsorship & School Adoption
Pittsburgh Public Schools (PPS) is launching the Community Sponsorship & School Adoption Process to strengthen school culture, foster a sense of belonging, and transform every PPS school into a thriving community hub. Through this initiative, each school will partner with local businesses, nonprofits, and organizations that commit to supporting students and their families. These partnerships will provide visible recognition, sustainable collaboration, and tailored support that reinforce each school’s role as both an academic and community anchor Community sponsors will be identified for each school by the start of the 20262027 school year.
A thriving community hub is defined as a school that offers highquality instruction while also connecting families with essential services, extending learning opportunities, fostering engagement, and maintaining facilities as accessible spaces for community By embedding recognition, accountability, and sustainability into the process, PPS ensures that each partnership makes a meaningful contribution to student success and family well-being
Community hubs are designed to act as stabilizers during periods of change. As PPS moves through the Future-Ready Facilities Plan, community hubs will:
Provide continuity of care and services, ensuring students continue to access essential support (health, food, counseling, after-school enrichment) by strengthening and formalizing current community partnerships
Offer a consistent, welcoming environment that anchors students and families during uncertain transitions, reinforcing a sense of belonging.
Engage partners to bridge gaps in programming and resources, helping schools quickly adapt to new needs brought about by reconfigurations
By positioning schools as hubs of stability, PPS ensures that students and families experience the Future-Ready Plan as an opportunity for growth and improvement, rather than disruption. The Community Sponsorship & School Adoption Process reflects PPS’s commitment to reimagining schools as centers of learning and community life. By aligning directly with Superintendent Walters’ priority goals, this initiative strengthens the District’s vision of equity, excellence, and efficiency, ensuring that every student and family feels supported, valued, and prepared for the future
Engagement, Outreach, Communications welcomekits
To help families feel prepared and connected from day one, each Future-Ready school will provide a Welcome Kit to students and their families The kit serves as a practical and symbolic gesture of partnership between the school and its community. Welcome Kits will include essential information, such as school contact details, daily schedules, and upcoming event calendars, alongside resources that support smooth transitions, like FAQs, transportation guidance, and tips for family engagement. By equipping families with clear information and a warm introduction to their school, Welcome Kits will reinforce the District’s commitment to hospitality, transparency, and a smooth start to every child’s Future-Ready experience
Visualshownforconceptonly TheWelcomeKitwill bedelivered in resourceform ratherthan asa physical box
PartnershipsandMediaOutreach
PPS will expand partnerships with trusted community organizations, faith groups, and nonprofits to amplify outreach PPS will prioritize strengthening relationships with Out of School Time providers and other community partners that serve in our schools and within the communities where our students live Through strong partnerships, we can ensure that students stay connected to enriching opportunities and families continue to benefit from the support of organizations. Partnerships will also be leveraged to build true collaboration with families and communities. Local media collaborations, such as WPXI’s In the Know and KDKA’s In Your Neighborhood. will share familycentered stories and updates.
Engagement, Outreach, Communications
Multi-LanguageandMulti-ChannelCommunication
Pittsburgh is a diverse city, and PPS serves families who speak many different languages and access information in many different ways To ensure every family can stay informed and feel included, communication about the Future-Ready Facilities Plan must be both multilingual and multi-platform. This means meeting families where they are, whether that’s through a translated text message, a flyer in their child’s backpack, a post on social media, or a conversation at a community hub. Trusted messengers including Community School Site Managers, Parent Ambassadors, and community partners such as faith-based groups, nonprofits, and neighborhood organizations will play a key role in distributing information, hosting bilingual conversations, and ensuring that messages are both linguistically and culturally relevant By layering information across channels and ensuring it is available in multiple languages, PPS is removing barriers and making sure all families, regardless of background or access point, can understand what is happening and how it affects their child.
Families will receive information through:
Talking Points: Translated text messages in preferred languages
Blackboard Connect: Translated phone messages in preferred languages
Mailings and Flyers: Distributed in multiple languages
Digital Platforms: PPS website, MyPPS App, Peachjar, Constant Contact.
Social Media: Short videos, graphics, and interactive explainers.
STaffCommunications
To ensure every family feels informed and included, communication about the FutureReady Facilities Plan must be clear and consistent, and matched by equally strong communication with staff. Principals, teachers, and school-based employees are often the first point of contact for families and must feel prepared to answer questions with accuracy and empathy To support this, PPS will provide internal briefings and resources to help staff understand the Future-Ready Facilities Plan, its connection to the Students First Strategic Plan, and the supports available during transitions
PPS staff are also included on family communications to promote transparency and consistency in messaging across the District.
Engagement, Outreach, Communications
In addition, staff will be equipped with:
Core Talking Points and FAQs: Ensuring consistency across schools
Message Maps and Sample Scripts: Providing quick responses to common and difficult questions
Scenario Training: Equipping school leaders and staff to confidently address questions, respond with empathy, and guide families to accurate information and official resources.
By investing in staff as trusted messengers, PPS builds credibility and ensures that families receive consistent, accurate information from every touchpoint
TransitionWebsiteandDigitalHub
To create a central, reliable source of information, PPS will maintain a dedicated FutureReady PPS Transition Page as part of the District’s online presence This site will serve as the go-to hub for families, staff, and community members, housing school-specific information, timelines, and FAQs.
The transition website ensures transparency by consolidating all updates in one place, reducing misinformation, and providing families with a consistent “home base” for accurate, up-to-date information
FeedbackLoops
Communication during times of change cannot be one-way Families, staff, and community partners need meaningful ways to share their questions, concerns, and ideas and to see how their input makes a difference. That is why PPS is embedding feedback loops into every stage of the Future-Ready Facilities Plan. These loops create opportunities for listening, demonstrate responsiveness, and build trust by showing that the District values community voice and adapts based on what it hears.
PPS will maintain ongoing feedback loops through: Surveys, Listening Sessions, and Parent Hotline (Let’s Talk) Responses: Multiple avenues for families and staff to share perspectives.
Quarterly Engagement Reports: Summaries highlighting participation, key themes, and actions taken
Students First Dashboard: A public-facing tool that tracks progress across facilities, academics, operations, and equity
STUDENTSFIRSTDASHBOARD
Pittsburgh Public Schools will develop a Students First Dashboard to give families, staff, and the community a clear, easy-to-read view of the District’s progress across all major priorities outlined in the five-year Students First, Always in All Ways Strategic Plan.
This new tool will reflect the District’s commitment to transparency and accountability, not only in its work to modernize facilities through the Future-Ready Facilities Plan, but also in how it supports student learning, equity, and community trust The Dashboard will help families see how each part of the work connects to the larger vision of preparing every student for success
What Will Be Found on the Dashboard
The Dashboard will feature six core sections, each tracking progress in key areas:
1. Academic Excellence & Innovation
Literacy and math growth data
New program launches such as Playlab, W.I.N. (What I Need) Time, and Community Time
2. Access & Opportunities
Specialized student supports
Transportation equity
Expanded access to enrichment opportunities
3. Future-Ready Facilities
Consolidation milestones and building readiness updates
Sustainability upgrades and air conditioning installations
Ongoing building renovations
4. Community & Partnerships
New partnerships with philanthropic, corporate, and communitybased organizations
Opportunities for families and partners to stay engaged
5. Operational Efficiency & Resources
Budget alignment to student supports
Cost savings achieved through right-sizing schools
Staff development tracker
Energy savings meter
6. Decisions, Outcomes & Next Steps
Clear reporting on decisions made, outcomes achieved, and what’s coming next
anticipated impact and benefits
These efforts will also help unify messaging across schools and neighborhoods. With principals, staff, and ambassadors equipped with clear talking points, families can turn to multiple sources for accurate information and reassurance. Regular updates through the Dashboard, newsletters, social media, and community forums will keep progress visible and demonstrate accountability.
Most importantly, the benefits will be felt by students When families feel informed and supported, transitions are smoother, school communities are stronger, and students can focus on learning By highlighting early wins, celebrating community traditions, and showing how feedback leads to real changes, PPS will reinforce that the Future-Ready Facilities Plan is not just about buildings, but about creating better, more equitable opportunities for every child.
Conclusion and next steps
The Offices of Public Relations and Media Content and Communications and Stakeholder Engagement will continue to coordinate Districtwide outreach to ensure every stakeholder is informed and included. By aligning messaging with the Students First vision, ensuring consistent updates, and empowering Parent Ambassadors and co-design teams, PPS will create a strong, transparent, and collaborative engagement process.
Next steps include finalizing Year 0 communications (letters, listening sessions, campaign launch, creation of co-design teams, launch of the parent ambassador program), preparing for visible Year 1 “early wins,” and reporting on progress through the Dashboard. Through these efforts, PPS will reinforce that the Future-Ready Facilities Plan is not only about managing change, but about building a stronger, fairer, and more sustainable future for students and families.
