Pittsburgh Public Schools’ Summer Dreamers Academy opened up a new world for the three Joos siblings, their mother said.

aWithout the program, I wouldn’t have gotten into musical theater as deeply as I did,a said Jessica Joos, a senior majoring in dance at the Pittsburgh Creative and Performing Arts 6a12 in the Cultural District.

The Summer Dreamers Academy, as well as programs centering on teacher effectiveness, mentoring and out-of-school activities, are Pittsburgh Public Schools initiatives run with about $90 million in grants that will expire between 2015 and September 2017.

The district has other grants, but the seven it’s losing support significant programs, officials said.

Pittsburgh Public Schools’ 2015 budget is $556.7 million, which includes an operating deficit of $26.9 million that the district will close by tapping its fund balance.

The largest of its expiring grants is the $40 million Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation grant, which started in September 2009 and expires in June 2016, that helps support a teacher effectiveness program.

A $1.54 million Heinz Endowments“>Heinz Endowments grant will expire in September 2017 and supports Summer Dreamers after-school programming and We Promise, a mentoring program to prepare black male students to compete for scholarships from The Pittsburgh Promise.

Pittsburgh Public Schools’ expiring grants support about 40 service contracts and 51 staff positions, Deputy Superintendent Donna Micheaux said at a school board Business and Finance Committee meeting last week.

She presented an overview of a plan to offset some of the grant losses and explore ways to preserve key portions of programs.

Although some contracts and staff positions will end when the grants end, some will be secured through the general fund in the 2016 budget and some might continue through new grants, Franklin said.