Last year, Pennsylvania issued only 15 new certificates for teachers of the visually impaired. The state’s department of education considers it a shortage area because that number has fluctuated over the years, but has consistently remained low.

In return for participating in the initiative, the teachers must agree to teach in high-needs Pittsburgh Public Schools for three years once they are certified.

Social studies teacher Traci Castro said it’s challenging to teach current events when the county is so divided, but she said students have been more engrossed in class.

A national study identified Western Pennsylvania as an “inequality belt” where several districts’ students are isolated in a high-poverty school district and a neighboring affluent community is supported by a healthy local economy.

The department levied nearly $800,000 in penalties, to be paid to the Community Benefit Trust and to the Allegheny Clean Air Fund.

The state used to cover a third of costs. Now it pays for a fourth of what districts spend on services for students with disabilities.