Pittsburgh Public Schools are utilizing rock climbing classes as one component of efforts to address learning gaps experienced by students with disabilities following pandemic-related disruptions, according to a report from WESA’s Jillian Forstadt.
The initiative reflects a broader trend of schools seeking innovative methods to support students who lost access to crucial services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Forstadt’s reporting highlights the specific implementation in Pittsburgh, where rock climbing is being employed as a therapeutic and developmental tool.
Jillian Forstadt is an education reporter for 90.5 WESA, Pittsburgh’s NPR News station. Her work has also appeared on NPR’s Morning Edition, and she previously covered affordable housing, homelessness, and rural health care at WSKG Public Radio in Binghamton, New York. Forstadt has recently reported on issues including a denied charter school application, policy changes within the Pine-Richland school board regarding library book selection, and a new AI ethics class at Avonworth High School.
Pennsylvania’s Office of the Budget is currently investigating the finances of the Woodland Hills School District, as reported by Forstadt, following concerns raised by state Representative Abigail Salisbury. The Pittsburgh Public Schools board has committed to reaching a decision regarding potential school closures before the end of the current academic year, according to Forstadt’s reporting.
Forstadt’s report on the rock climbing classes aired on February 26, 2026, with audio available following the broadcast.
