The board of Pittsburgh Public Schools again received a B- from A+ Schools, but it still showed improvement in four areas.

A+ Schools, an education group, today issued its first report card of this school year based on observations made by its Board Watch volunteers. At least three volunteers attend agenda review and legislative meetings.

"We are pleased to see the school board continues to move in the right direction," said Carey Harris, executive director of A+ Schools. "Our grading system shows the school board's grade rose modestly from a weak to a strong B-."

She also praised the board for creating a board policy manual.

The board's grades included:

• B- in focus and mission, up from C+

• B in conduct, up from C+

• C+ in role clarity, up from C

• B- in competency, up from C+

• B+ in transparency, the same grade as on the previous report.

The report included these suggestions:

• Improve signs directing the public to meeting rooms.

• Move agenda review and legislative meetings to a larger room

• Schedule agenda review meetings before public hearings

• Develop a means for tracking and addressing policy issues.

• More information is available at www.aplusschools.org.

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