Beginning in Pittsburgh, on December 29, 1913, PIAA was given the privilege of serving its member schools and registered officials by establishing policies and adopting contest rules that: emphasize the educational values of interscholastic athletics, promote safe and sportsmanlike competition, and provide uniform standards for all interscholastic levels of competition. With cooperative efforts of its membership, PIAA has assisted middle school, junior high school, intermediate school, and senior high school students in participating in interscholastic athletic programs on a fair and equitable basis, thus producing vital education benefits.