Pittsburgh Public Schools policy committee reviews draft to allow private sponsorship of student activities

The Pittsburgh Public Schools Policy Committee reviewed a proposed policy to allow private sponsorship of student activities — proposed policy 802.1 — at a workshop on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. Chair Jamie Petrovsky said the committee will open a 30-day public comment and review period before the item returns to the board.

The draft policy would permit a private entity to offer goods, services or funds to an individual school or the district in exchange for recognition, and it lays out definitions, a sponsorship-review process and content restrictions. "The policy provides guidelines for committing sponsorship of student activities in a manner that also supports the district's mission and protects the interest of the student and personnel," presenter Elizabeth Sattler said.

Under the draft, "student activities" would include school-sponsored extracurriculars such as interscholastic competitions, theater productions, musical performances and art installations. A district sponsorship review committee would review applications; the draft sets the committee size at no more than seven members and requires at least two community members, one of whom must be a parent of a current student. The draft calls for the chief financial officer (or designee), the district athletic director (or designee) and the chief operating officer (or designee) to be part of the committee, and for the superintendent to nominate other members.

Building principals and athletic directors would be able to submit proposed sponsorship agreements to the committee. Administrative regulations, the draft says, will specify the application process; the policy's minimum application items are the sponsor's name and address, the sponsorship amount and the type of recognition requested. The committee would communicate approvals or denials in writing, and any denial may be appealed to the superintendent.

The draft specifies contracting rules and limits. All sponsorship contracts must follow district contracting policies. Contracts may not require a school, student or employee to sell a sponsor's goods. For athletic activities governed by the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA), the policy would bar contracts that require including a sponsor's logo, name or image on district uniforms or apparel, in line with PIAA rules. The draft sets an approval threshold: a school principal or athletic director may approve sponsorships up to $1,000 in annual value; the superintendent must approve sponsorships exceeding $1,000 and is to notify the board of such contracts at its next legislative meeting.

The draft includes a list of prohibited content for sponsors: material that incites hostility or violence; attacks on ethnic, racial or religious groups; discrimination against protected groups; promotion of illegal drugs, alcohol, tobacco or electronic cigarettes; pornographic content; violation of law or district policy; and political advocacy for or against candidates or ballot questions. The draft also bars sponsorships that would create a substantial disruption to the school environment or otherwise be detrimental to students or inconsistent with district goals.

During the workshop, board member Miss Yord asked whether the item is a new policy or an edit to existing rules; Sattler and committee members clarified that policy 802 governs gifts, grants and donations and that 802.1 would be a new, separate sponsorship policy. Chair Jamie Petrovsky said the draft also responds to prior uncertainty about sponsorship solicitations and referenced a February 2017 resolution related to Pittsburgh Marathon sponsorships, noting he did not have the full history available.

The committee closed the workshop with Chair Petrovsky calling for public comment: the draft will be posted for a 30-day public comment and review period before it is scheduled to appear at the board's May legislative meeting for further consideration.