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WHEREAS, the Pittsburgh Public Schools was founded in 1911 bringing 61 separate and independent school districts under the direction of one newly appointed 15-member board to better serve the City of Pittsburgh's children and families; and
WHEREAS, in the 2011-12 school year, the Pittsburgh Public Schools celebrated its 100th anniversary; and
WHEREAS, Pittsburgh Public Schools was ranked 7th in the nation among public school systems in large U.S. cities in GreatSchools "Best Cities to Live and Learn 2010" report; and
WHEREAS, in 2009 the Pittsburgh Public Schools was awarded $80 million in competitive grants from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the U.S. Department of Education's Teacher Incentive Fund (TIF) program to support its Empowering Effective Teachers plan; and
WHEREAS, the Pittsburgh Public Schools believes that through its Empowering Effective Teachers work, more than 80% of its students will complete a four year college or workforce certification; and
WHEREAS, Pittsburgh Public Schools students have access to the largest Promise scholarship program in the nation; and
WHEREAS, 3,200 Pittsburgh Public Schools students have received Pittsburgh Promise® scholarships to attend either a technical/trade school offering a two year degree and or a college or university in Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, more than 600 Pittsburgh Public School students were in the inaugural class of Pittsburgh Promise scholars that graduated from a four-year college or two-year workforce certification program during the 2011-2012 school year; and
WHEREAS, Pittsburgh Public Schools Superintendent, Dr. Linda S. Lane is leading the way to build a sustainable district to ensure that City of Pittsburgh children can continue to be prepared to achieve academic excellence and strength of character further equipping them for lifelong success; and
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby honor Pittsburgh Public Schools for its 100 years of excellence in education, as well as Dr. Linda Lane for her successful and effective leadership in her role as Pittsburgh Public Schools Superintendent; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare Tuesday, July 10, 2012 Pittsburgh Public Schools Centennial Day in the City of Pittsburgh.