Frequently Asked Questions

What does ELC do?
For an explanation of ELC’s work, please go to our About Us page. For information about our ongoing advocacy projects, please go to our Home page and look under “News and Action Items” or see our Agenda page.

Is ELC part of a school district or State government?
No. ELC is a private, not-for-profit public interest law firm that advocates for the rights of public school students. ELC works to make good public education a reality for Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable children – poor children, children of color, children with disabilities, English language learners, children in foster homes and institutions, and others.

I’m having a problem with my child’s public school. What can ELC do for me?
We have lots of publications that might be able to help solve your problem. You can also contact us at 215-238-6970, or use our Inquiries Form. Make sure to leave us your name, phone number, and mailing address if you leave us a message or e-mail us. We’ll be glad to respond, but we may provide you with publications and/or referrals rather than personalized legal advice. With our limited staff, we can only take very few individual cases.

Does ELC charge a fee for its services?
No. All of ELC's services are free of charge.

What happens when I call or e-mail ELC?
You’ll be asked to leave a message in a voicemail box, and our Intake Coordinator will get back to you in two to four days. Sometimes, we will send you a publication instead of calling you back.

Do you take walk-ins?
No. We ask that people call us instead.

Do I have to be a parent or the child’s caregiver to contact ELC?
No. While many people who contact ELC are calling us about their own child, we also respond to social workers, juvenile probations officers, school psychologists, educators, and other interested persons.

Do you answer calls about special education questions?
Generally, no. Callers with questions about special education problems should call the Disability Rights Network (DRN) at 1-800-692-7443 or one of the organizations listed here.

I am having troubling enrolling my child in school. What can I do?
We have several fact sheets about school attendance and enrollment. If these fact sheets don’t answer your question, please contact us.

Does ELC represent teachers or give them advice about employment-related issues?
No. Teachers should contact their union representative or consult with a private attorney for advice about employment-related matters.

Do you answer questions about private schools?
No. We do not provide advice about problems you might be having with your child’s private school. But, a public school cannot refuse to enroll a child because it does not have records from the child’s private school. For more guidance on this topic, see the Student Records Being Retained by a Private School Basic Education Circular on the Pennsylvania Department of Education's Web site. In addition, callers with questions about children with disabilities in private schools can contact the Disability Rights Network at 1-800-692-7443 for advice.

Do you answer questions about homeschooling?
No, but we have an extensive fact sheet about homeschooling in Pennsylvania, which gives referrals to organizations that do answer homeschooling questions: Homeschooling in Pennsylvania: A Fact Sheet

Does ELC take calls about higher education problems?
No. ELC advocates on behalf of children up to grade 12. We do not take questions about post-secondary education.

I’m having problems with my child’s bus transportation. Where can I go for help?
We have several fact sheets about what you can do if you are having problems with school transportation:

When Is a Student Entitled to Free Transportation To and From School?

Pennsylvania Department of Education: Most Frequently-Asked Questions About Transportation

Transportation for Students with Disabilities in Pennsylvania

Long Bus Rides for Children With Disabilities

Transportation for Students with Disabilities in Pennsylvania

Fairness in School Discipline in Pennsylvania: A Guide for Attorneys and Advocates Who Represent Students publications for advice.

My child was arrested for something that happened at school. Where can I go for help?
You can contact your local county Public Defender’s office or a private attorney who handles criminal matters. The Juvenile Law Center may also be able to provide some advice to families whose children are in delinquency proceedings. The Juvenile Law Center’s phone number is 1-800-875-8887. ELC does not represent children in delinquency cases.

My child is being bullied at school. Where can I go for help?
Look at our fact sheets on how to handle bullying problems:

What Can You Do If Your Child Is Being Bullied by Other Students? and Sample Letter Requesting an Investigation

What Can You Do if Your Child With Disabilities is Being Harassed by Other Students?Make sure to send a letter to your child’s principal if things get worse, and tell the principal what you think needs to be done to solve the problem.

If you live in Philadelphia, this fact sheet provides more advice: What To Do When Your Child is Being Bullied at a Philadelphia Public School.

A teacher hit my child. What can I do?
First, you should let the principal know right away. Explain what happened in a letter to the principal and ask for a meeting. Ask the school what it will do next. If you don’t get a response, call the Superintendent’s office and ask for a meeting with the Superintendent. You can also file an Educator Misconduct Complaint with the Pennsylvania Department of Education if the staff member is a certified teacher or other certified professional. The complaint form can be found as an attachment to the Employee Misconduct Complaint Procedures Basic Education Circular. Finally, you also have the option of pressing criminal charges against the teacher. You may also want to consult with a private attorney.

Pennsylvania law prohibits the use of corporal punishment (meaning physically punishing a student for misconduct at school), but teachers and other staff can use “reasonable force” to stop a fight, in self-defense, to get a weapon or some other dangerous object from a student, or to protect someone else.

My child is being charged with truancy. What can I do?
Look at our fact sheet on the rules for school attendance and truancy in Pennsylvania: What Are the Rules for School Attendance and Truancy in Pennsylvania?.

Check out the Web site for the Pennsylvania Truancy Toolkit at www.patruancytoolkit.info. Make sure you attend whatever court hearing has been scheduled, and be prepared to either show the judge that your child’s absences should have been excused, or to provide proof that you really tried to get your child to school. If you live in Philadelphia, look at our fact sheet on The Truancy Process in the School District of Philadelphia for advice.

Does ELC provide advice about gifted education issues?

No. ELC does not provide legal advice about gifted education issues, but we do have a fact sheet on the topic, The Rights of Gifted Students in Pennsylvania. Included in this fact sheet is contact information for several gifted education advocacy organizations.

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