Early 1970s - “Share-A-Home” Program Created

The DePaul Institute closed its residential program under the leadership of Sister Philomena Mannion and became a day school. During this time, a “Share-A-Home” program was created to host residential DePaul students during this transition. This allowed students who lived too far away for a daily commute to continue their education at DePaul School when the dormitories closed.

When the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was authorized in 1975, local school districts were made responsible for the education of providing “Free and Appropriate Public Education” (FAPE) for every child, thus shifting the educational responsibility to the school district.

When the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed in 1975, all public buildings were required to be handicap-accessible. The DePaul Institute Campus in Mount Lebanon was not equipped with elevators, ramps, or access for individuals who have ambulatory needs, thus began the difficult transition to find a new location for DePaul School.

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Photo of the main DePaul building