About Us: Help Line
The Education Law Center Help Line
Through our telephone HelpLine, ELC staff answers questions from students, families, advocates, and child-serving professionals about the legal rights of public school students in Pennsylvania. However, our HelpLine services are changing in some respects.
As of 7/1/07, we will no longer be able to offer "HelpLine" services to families with questions about special education or early intervention. This is because our funder, the Disability Rights Network of PA (formerly PA Protection & Advocacy), will offer telephone consultation services itself rather than contracting with us to provide them. You can reach the Disability Rights Network at 800-692-7443 or 717-236-8110. There are also other organizations that may be able to help you; for that list, click here.
ELC will continue to offer HelpLine services to families with questions about issues other than special education/early intervention. When you call us, the receptionist will ask you about the child and the problem, and a member of our legal staff tries to return the call within three days -- sooner if it is an emergency.
If your area code is 215, 610, 484, 717, or 570, please call (215) 238-6970 between the hours of 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday –Thursday.
If your area code is 724, 814, or 412, please call (412) 258-2120 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Monday – Thursday.
Please note that ELC HelpLine staff provide only limited consultation, and generally does not formally represent callers with the school district or at hearings or court proceedings. In addition, ELC HelpLine staff can sometimes give you the names of private attorneys in your area who represent families in education cases.