City Cast Pittsburgh logo
September 25, 2023

What Broke the Pittsburgh Promise?

City Cast Pittsburgh

What Broke the Pittsburgh Promise?

00:00:00
View all City Cast Pittsburgh episodes

In 2008, the city and its foundations made a promise to all Pittsburgh kids – if you attend class and get decent grades, we’ll help you pay for college or trade school. But last week, the officials behind those gifts told parents in a one-page letter that the money is almost out. We’re talking about why with journalist Mary Niederberger and James Fogarty, executive director of A+ Schools.

For more background on the Pittsburgh Promise’s results and past fundraising efforts, check out Mary’s previous reporting for PublicSource.

Want some more Pittsburgh news? 


Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Hey Pittsburgh

Stay connected to City Cast Pittsburgh and get ready to join the local conversation.

Can't subscribe? Turn off your ad blocker and try again.

Latest Episodes

See all
September 4

Duolingo’s Iran War Problem, Airport Auctions & Eviction Wins

The Trump Administration’s latest round of sanctions against Iran, dubbed “Operation Economic Outcast,” includes restrictions on cooperat...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
September 3

Respect the Parking Chair! Plus More Essential Pgh Rules

Pittsburgh is full of unwritten rules and weird quirks, like reserving your parking space with a rickety chair, taking a left turn the mo...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
September 2

Ranking the Restaurants at Rivers Casino

If you're making a trip to Rivers Casino, it's probably not for the food, but City Cast Pittsburgh contributor and Post-Gazette dining cr...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
September 1

Your Guide to September 2026 in Pittsburgh

September in Pittsburgh means fall is coming! Check out a new regal-looking harpy eagle at the National Aviary, drive some golf balls off...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
August 31

Pittsburgh’s High-Speed Rail Fantasy

Should Pittsburghers stop dreaming about high-speed rail and start celebrating the trains we already have? The reality of having one is a...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
August 30

‘Your City Could Be Better’: Why Is PIT the Gold Standard?

Pittsburgh’s airport might not be the international hub it once was (RIP USAir), but it stands alone in a newer, lesser-known way: having...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
August 28

Did Disney Do Us Dirty? Plus, Guerilla Crosswalks & Capo's Investigation

A new collaboration pairs Disney characters with every NFL team, and the choice to represent the Steelers has been… controversial. Did Di...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
August 27

Your Guide to Making Friends in Pittsburgh

It can be daunting to make new friends in Pittsburgh. Lots of people are still tight with their buddies from kindergarten, and it's not a...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
August 26

Is Flooding Getting Worse in Pittsburgh?

Pittsburgh is on track to have its wettest August on record, which is especially concerning since flooding is our most frequent natural d...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
August 25

Taco Bell Lawsuit, Unsafe Sidewalks & Cryptid Dance Party

Is a local woman suing Taco Bell and Taylor Farms over cyclosporiasis? Is Downtown finally getting a grocery store in the form of Trader...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art