NFL Draft To Empty Pittsburgh School Classrooms

PITTSBURGH, PA — The NFL Draft next month not only will impact the players selected and the teams that choose them. It also will affect the 20,000 students in the Pittsburgh Public Schools and their parents.

PPS students will learn remotely from April 22-24 as the city expects as many as 700,000 people to attend the draft on the North Shore and Point State Park.

The school district, the state's second largest, will switch to online instruction in the NFL's most popular annual event besides the Super Bowl.

During the three days of online instruction, students will complete assignments provided by teachers through digital platforms.

“Our priority is maintaining continuity of learning while recognizing the extraordinary circumstances the city will experience during the NFL Draft,” Superintendent Wayne Walters said in a statement.

“Transitioning to asynchronous learning allows us to support students academically while helping families navigate the logistical challenges expected across the region.”