Grades 11–12 | Berkshire Community College

The Positive Options Program is an early college alternative designed for juniors and seniors who have struggled to succeed in a traditional high school setting. Students remain enrolled at Pittsfield or Taconic High School while attending the program at Berkshire Community College. POP combines online learning with face-to-face instruction in a small-group setting, offers individualized scheduling, and provides students with access to college facilities and opportunities to participate in college-level coursework. The program’s goal is to help students meet graduation requirements while preparing for continued education and lifelong learning.

For more information contact your student's Guidance Counselor.

To view more about this program visit the Positive Options Program Website.

Grades 7–8 | Reid Middle School

The Middle School Innovation Center provides a flexible, blended learning environment for students who need an alternative approach to traditional schooling. Students receive online and/or face-to-face instruction along with academic, social-emotional, and career-development supports. Staff work with students to customize schedules and provide scaffolded instruction. The program is designed to help students stabilize their learning, address barriers to attendance and engagement, and ultimately return to their home school with an appropriate support plan.

For more information contact your student's Guidance Counselor.

Grades 9–12 | Pittsfield High School

The High School Innovation Center offers flexible, blended learning opportunities for students who may be struggling with attendance, academic progress, or other social-emotional challenges. Students receive individualized schedules, online and/or face-to-face instruction, and comprehensive academic, social-emotional, and career-development support. The program is designed to help students remain engaged in their education, make progress toward graduation, and, when appropriate, return to their home school with a support plan.

For more information contact your student's Guidance Counselor.

Temporary Academic Support

Pittsfield Public Schools Tutoring Services provide temporary, individualized academic support for students who are unable to participate in their regular school setting due to circumstances such as long-term suspension or documented medical needs. Depending on the student’s circumstances, tutoring may take place at the PPS Tutoring Center, virtually, or in the student’s home. The goal is to help students maintain academic progress and stay connected to their coursework while preparing to return to a full-time school setting.

Eligibility Criteria

Tutoring Services are intended for students who are missing academic instruction due to one or more of the following:

• Out-of-school long-term suspension.
• Documented medical leave.
• Special Education or English Language Learner (ELL) services related to one of the circumstances above.

Tutoring services are also dependent upon:

• Availability of a tutor who can meet the student's academic needs.
• Availability of an appropriate location for tutoring to occur.

Referral Process

1. The student's sending school submits a referral for a student who meets one or more of the eligibility criteria.
2. The Tutor Coordinator and Director of Alternative Education review the referral and determine whether the student meets the criteria for service.
3. If the criteria are met and appropriate tutoring resources and space are available, the Tutor Coordinator coordinates the assignment with the student, caregiver, tutor, and sending school.
4. The sending school is responsible for providing the student's coursework unless other arrangements have been made before enrollment.
5. Tutoring is temporary and is intended to support students until they can return to full-time academics in a school setting.

For more information contact your student's Guidance Counselor.

Grades 9–12 | Credit Recovery

The Pittsfield Public Schools Summer School Program provides high school students with an opportunity to recover credit and strengthen their understanding of essential course content from incomplete or failed courses. Through targeted instruction and academic support, students work toward mastering essential learning outcomes and continuing their progress toward graduation requirements.

Eligibility Criteria

Students must meet the following criteria to participate in Summer School:

• Be enrolled in grades 9–12.
• Have earned a minimum grade of 40 in the course they wish to recover.
• Students from outside Pittsfield Public Schools must meet the same eligibility requirements and pay the applicable registration fee.

Registration & Eligibility Process

1. Students wishing to participate must obtain written authorization from the school where the final grade will be recorded.
2. The authorization must identify the appropriate course and verify that the student earned a minimum grade of 40 during the previous school year.
3. The student must present the written authorization during Summer School registration.
4. School counselors identify eligible students and create a list for online registration by the first week of June.

For more information, please contact Meghan Gagnon at mgagnon@pittsfield.net.