Newsroom Archive

2020-21

Education Law Center’s COVID-19 Resource Page

December 2020

The 74

12/14: How Missing Zoom Classes Could Funnel Kids into the Juvenile Justice System — And Why Some Experts Say Now is the Time to Reform Truancy Rules

Chalkbeat Philadelphia

12/10: Students fight for right to vote on Philadelphia’s school board

Philadelphia Eagles

12/9: Eagles look to help level the playing field with $460,000 in grant donations through Social Justice Fund

Pennsylvania Capital-Star

12/3: New report: Pa. has spent a decade ignoring skyrocketing special ed. costs | Thursday Morning Coffee

November 2020

Lehigh Valley Live

11/9: Homeless Bethlehem mom invokes 33-year-old law in fight to keep her kids in same school

October 2020

The Morning Call

10/27: Pennsylvania schools need an additional $4.6 billion to close education gaps, new analysis finds

Deseret News

10/26: Credit where credit is due: How juvenile justice fails kids in custody academically

September 2020

The Philadelphia Inquirer

9/29: Archdiocese of Philadelphia closing St. Gabriel’s Hall, marking the end of an era for care of delinquent youths

WITF

9/24: Children bullied for race and gender now have broader leeway to sue in Pa.

The Sanatoga Post

9/22: Center Publishes Online Guide for School Parents

The Philadelphia Inquirer

9/21: Juvenile abuse bill prompted by Glen Mills investigation passes House

August 2020

The Washington Post

8/21: A severely troubled school district in Pennsylvania faces takeover by for-profit charter organization

The Imprint

8/11: Advocates Fear COVID-19 is Leaving Foster Youth Further Behind in School 

The Herald Star

8//6: Schools go round and round on bus plans

July 2020

The Dallas Post

7/17: DePasquale: Pandemic exposes education inequity, adds risk to sports

Public Source

7/16: Campaign to reopen Pittsburgh Public Schools amid coronavirus pandemic releases 407 recommendations

June 2020

Public Source

6/22: Activists rally in the streets, then at a school board meeting, against police presence at Pittsburgh schools

Chalkbeat Philadelphia

6/11: Movement for police-free schools reaches Philadelphia

Public Source

6/10: Should police be in Pittsburgh schools? Advocates’ call for removal reignited in wake of Floyd’s death

May 2020

Pennsylvania Capital-Star

5/29: PA. Lawmakers Beef Up School Safety Grant Fund To Pay For Masks, Gloves In Pandemic

The Tribune Democrat

5/28: $25.8B short-term state budget approved by General Assembly

Next City

5/27: The Remote School Year Is Almost Over. Here’s How Philly Schools Fared

Public News Service

5/22: Education Rights Still in Force During Pandemic

April 2020

The Morning Call

4/26: Allentown students at disadvantage in starting remote learning Monday, weeks behind suburban peers

Chalkbeat Philadelphia

4/24: District to state: Stop austerity before it starts

90.5 WESA
4/15: School Leaders Say It Will Take A Long Time For Students To Make Up For COVID Closures

The Daily Item

4/13: Closure of schools create extra worries for families with special education students

The Daily Item

4/10: Local schools get to decide how tough to grade during closing

Philadelphia Weekly

4/1: Children of the Covid

March 2020

Myhighplains

3/30: When are schools opening up? After social distancing extension, it could be a while

Chalkbeat Philadelphia

3/24: Philly to buy laptops for needy students for virtual classes during shutdown

Chalkbeat Philadelphia

3/18: Hite clarifies ban on ‘remote instruction’ during shutdown

February 2020

WHYY

2/26: Speaking Mam in MAGA country: Immigration, education and the teenage boy in the middle

The Philadelphia Inquirer

2/11: A 6-year-old pointed a finger gun at her teacher and said ‘I shoot you.’ Her school called the cops.

Chalkbeat Philadelphia

2/5: Philly charters say Wolf’s budget proposals would devastate them

January 2020

TribLive

1/27: Pennsylvania watches as Supreme Court considers public support for parochial schools

Generosity

1/13: Power Moves: Jessica Attie joins Education Law Center

December 2019

BCTV

12/27: Court Advances Suit Against Glenn Mills School

Chalkbeat Philadelphia

12/4: Judge rejects petition to charterize all of Chester, calling it ‘premature’

November 2019

Pennsylvania Capital-Star

11/26: November is National Youth Homelessness Prevention Month. Here’s how you can help | Opinion

Associated Press

11/9: How ZIP codes determine the quality of a child’s education

Chalkbeat Philadelphia

11/1: Report recommends change in how Pa. special education dollars are allocated

October 2019

The Morning Call

10/31: Segregation in Pennsylvania schools: How a ZIP code determines the quality of a child’s education

Dust + Dignity Podcast

10/24: Ep. 6 Deborah Gordon Klehr

Chalkbeat Philadelphia

10/17: ELC files suit against Math, Civics & Sciences charter for denying admission to student with IEP

WHYY
10/17: Philly school board voted against two charter renewals — a major blow to heralded reform effort

Chalkbeat Philadelphia

10/3: City Council passes bills outlawing discrimination against gender non-conforming youth

September 2019

Public Source

9/19: What level of access should city police have to Pittsburgh Schools?

Kensington Voice

9/05: How districts, schools, and educators can support English learners in the classroom

August 2019

Penn Live
8/13: Wolf moves to reform Pa.’s ‘flawed’ charter school law that he calls one of the worst in the nation

Delco Daily Times
8/1: Wolf announces reforms in wake of Glen Mills saga

July 2019

Penn Live
7/28: Lunch-shaming must end | PennLive letters

Public News Service
7/26: New Law Gives PA Foster Kids a College Boost

Generocity
7/23: Education Law Center: Philadelphia’s pregnant and parenting students are ‘falling through the cracks’

Altoona Mirror
7/21: District may arm trained civilians

Allentown Morning Call
7/17: Tamaqua school board takes controversial policy to arm teachers back to the drawing board

Philadelphia Public School Notebook
7/15: Report urges improvements in policies for pregnant and parenting teens

Campus Safety
7/12: P.A. Governor Signs Bill Arming School Security Personnel

Times Leader
7/9: In shift from past, state boosts special ed funding more than basic ed

Pennsylvania Capital-Star
7/5: In 2017, Pa. lawmakers outlawed ‘lunch shaming.’ Now, alternative meals are back.

The Philadelphia Inquirer
7/5: Does new Pa. law ban arming teachers? Depends on whom you ask.

June 2019

Pennsylvania Capital-Star
6/27: Armed teachers in Pa.’s schools? Groups on both sides of the gun debate say Senate bill would allow it

Pennsylvania Capital-Star
6/26: Here’s what Pennsylvania’s public education advocates think of this year’s budget plan

FOX56
6/25: Legislation could give PA schools the option of armed security guards

Local CBS 21 News
6/24: Bill to put armed guards back in PA schools debated in Congress

The Morning Call
6/12: Hundreds of Lehigh Valley parents still cited for kids’ truancy, though fewer under new law

Pennsylvania Capital-Star
6/11: Tell your legislator to support this Pa. Senate bill that keeps kids on track to a high school diploma | Opinion 

Local CBS 21 News
6/11: Project PA: Foster Youth Fight for Education Rights

Pennsylvania Capital-Star
6/5: Pa.’s ‘have not’ school districts are falling farther behind. Lawmakers, Wolf need to close the gap | Opinion

Education Week
6/5: Trump Administration to End Schooling, Recreation, Legal Aid for Migrant Children in Shelters

May 2019

Pennsylvania Capital-Star
5/31: With Title IX under fire, Pa.’s anti-discrimination law may provide an alternative remedy | Opinion

Lancaster Online
5/30: Supreme Court decision means Elanco school board needs to face reality, accommodate transgender students [opinion]

The 74
5/29: Is School Choice the Black Choice: A Lack of Student Performance Data and the Need for More Black-Run Charters Focus of Philadelphia Town Hall

Lancaster Online
5/29: SCOTUS decision furthers debate over Elanco’s policy on transgender students 

Delco Daily Times
5/20: Guest Column: Education funding: William Penn families finally get day in court

The Philadelphia Public School Notebook
5/15: District Alone Cannot Fix Funding for Students with Disabilities

Lancaster Online
5/13: Elanco school board may change controversial privacy policy tonight before going into effect Tuesday

The Philadelphia Public School Notebook
5/7: Public demands that Council invest in schools

Philadelphia Inquirer
5/6: End abatements, air-condition the schools, say Philly teachers, parents pushing for more education money

April 2019

Philadelphia Inquirer
4/30: Pa. lawmakers push bigger tax credits for private-school scholarships; public-ed advocates object

KQED (The California Report)
4/30: How California Teens Wound Up at Pennsylvania School Accused of Battering Students

The Citizens’ Voice
4/28: As special education costs soar, state fails to keep up

Standard Speaker
4/24: Hazleton Area making strides, still work to be done

Philadelphia Inquirer
4/23: Charges dismissed against former Glen Mills counselor; another awaits trial

The Philadelphia Public School Notebook
4/17: Two rejected charters submit revised applications to Board of Education amid push for more oversight

Philadelphia Inquirer
4/11: Glen Mills Schools, state officials sued by national legal center over abuse, failing to educate

March 2019

Chalkbeat Philadelphia
3/15: Teachers and students call for more resources for growing English Learner population

Chalkbeat Philadelphia
3/11: Advocates say too many Special Ed students are not prepared for life after school

Chalkbeat Philadelphia
3/5: ELC report says charters are more segregated, serve relatively fewer students with the highest needs

Penn Capital-Star
3/4: Education group wants Wolf to prevent Corbett-appointed charter school board from making rulings

90.5 WESA
3/1: What’s At Stake When There’s A Language Barrier Between Families And Schools?

February 2019

Philadelphia Inquirer
2/22: Pa.’s budget must address glaring inequities in school funding | Opinion

Metro
2/17: At least 70 youths are removed from Glen Mills boarding following abuse allegations

Chalkbeat Philadelphia
2/11: State’s Charter Appeal Board still run by Corbett appointees

Chalkbeat Philadelphia
2/5: Gov. Wolf’s budget: Good for education, but more is needed, advocates say

January 2019

Open Minds
1/20: Pennsylvania Report Alleges Inadequate Oversight Of Residential Foster Care Placements

WHYY
1/16: Youth in Pa. residential institutions unsafe, disconnected, denied quality education

Public News Service
1/7: Educators Urge Wolf to Up Funding for Special Education

Chalkbeat Philadelphia
1/3: ELC asks Wolf to increase funding for special education

December 2018

The Philadelphia Public School Notebook
12/19: Advocates blast federal commission report’s discipline recommendations

The Hechinger Report
12/13: New report underscores education problems in institutions for foster youth

Lancaster Online
12/12: Bonus allocations another disappointing twist in state education funding

Chalkbeat Philadelphia
12/11: New hires make it easier to return to school

Public News Service
12/6: A Win for PA Students with Disabilities

The Philadelphia Tribune
12/5: Pennsylvania pressing schools to ensure special-ed students aren’t on their own

Philadelphia Inquirer
12/5: Two Philly homeless students were denied an adequate education. Now, there are statewide ripples.

Education drive
12/4: Philanthropists have long favored ed — for better and worse

Generocity
12/4: Power Moves: Philly’s LGBTQ board prep program picked its inaugural class

November 2018

The 74
11/28: Monthly QuotED: 9 Notable Quotes That Made Education Headlines in November, From Bullying to School Choice — and a Small Victory for History in Texas

The Philadelphia Tribune
11/19: Education Law Center names new policy director

The Hechinger Report
11/10: Institutions for foster kids aren’t doing enough to educate them

October 2018

Allentown Morning Call
10/29: SPECIAL REPORT: As costs skyrocket, Pennsylvania’s share of special education funding has fallen

PRI
10/23: When war keeps students from starting high school on time, should they be allowed an extra year?

Chalkbeat Philadelphia
10/15: In appeal of closure vote, Eastern charter school questions District’s oversight 

Chalkbeat Philadelphia & Keystone Crossroads
10/9: Skyrocketing Pa. special ed costs falling heavily on school districts, taxpayers

September 2018

Delco Daily Times
9/23: Editorial: New school year, old funding problem

Philadelphia Public School Notebook
9/12: Extra info can help some gain admission

August 2018

Philadelphia Public Record
8/30: POLS ON THE STREET: Can Schools Sue Their Way to Funding?

Philadelphia Inquirer
8/21: Landmark Pa. school-funding lawsuit appears headed to trial

Public News Service
8/6: Help Available for At-Risk Early Learners

July 2018

Philadelphia Inquirer
7/26: She says her granddaughter’s acceptance to Philly charter was rescinded because of her special-education status

Philadelphia Public School Notebook
7/19: Franklin Towne accused of discriminating against special needs student

The Morning Call
7/9: Gap between rich and poor Pa. school districts has grown, lawsuit says

June 2018

Philadelphia Inquirer
6/28: Overcoming ‘a bureaucratic demolition of human rights,’ an intellectually disabled woman finds son taken at birth

Lancaster Online
6/17: Local clergy to join rally to draw attention to inequitable education funding

May 2018

Philadelphia Inquirer
5/17: ‘We should have done more to protect you.’ Kids in placement describe abuse, isolation and lack of education

Chalkbeat Philadelphia
5/7: Court allows historic school funding case to proceed

Keystone Crossroads
5/1: Suburban schools’ residency enforcement mostly affects kids of color

April 2018

Public News Service
4/12: Education Advocates Call for Boost in Special-Ed Funding

Jewish Exponent
4/11: ‘Don’t Make Assumptions’ on Gender Identity

March 2018

TribbLive
3/15: Lawyer offers Pennsylvania lawmakers a different take on school security

Philadelphia Public School Notebook
3/7: Commonwealth Court hears arguments in school funding case

Generocity
3/6: Meet the chiefs: The women leading Philly’s public interest law organizations

PublicSource
3/6: Why the debate about school safety and increased security may exacerbate the school-to-prison pipeline

PennLive
3/3: Wolf, lawmakers need to step up for students with disabilities 

February 2018

THE 74
2/25: The Next Educational Equity Battleground: Little-Noticed ESSA Provision to Allow Parents to See Whether Districts Fund Schools Fairly

TribLive
2/22: Trump’s proposal to arm teachers would face legal, union opposition in Pennsylvania

Chalkbeat Philadelphia
2/21: Case tests whether districts must protect students from bullying under Pa. law

Keystone Crossroads
2/6: Gov. Wolf emphasizes education, but scales back funding ambitions during final first term budget address

January 2018

Chalkbeat Philadelphia
1/25: Wolf asks court to expedite school funding lawsuit; GOP leaders reiterate opposition

Philadelphia Inquirer
1/19: Unionville-Chadds Ford district to revisit suspension policy

December 2017

Public News Service
12/13: School Voucher Bills Called a Bad Deal for PA Schools

Chalkbeat Philadelphia
12/12: Parents, local advocates call for more school police accountability after incident at Solis-Cohen Elementary School

Chalkbeat Philadelphia
12/5: How we are failing the city’s foster children

Chalkbeat Philadelphia
12/1: U.S. Civil Rights Office to investigate bullying complaint

October 2017

Chalkbeat Philadelphia
10/23: State: Philadelphia violated rights of at least 800 young students

York Daily Record
10/11: Pa. Supreme Court likely to change how we fund schools

Chalkbeat Philadelphia
10/2: State truancy law amended to improve attendance, prevent jail time for parents

Public News Service
10/2: Court Rules PA Parents Can Challenge State Education Funding

Keystone State Education Coalition
10/1: PA schoolchildren will have their day in court!

September 2017

THE 74
9/28: Pennsylvania Supreme Court Rules School Funding Inequity Lawsuit Must Go to Trial

Keystone Crossroads
9/28: Those challenging fairness of Pa. school funding will have day in court

The Citizens’ Voice
9/28: PA Supreme Court orders trial on public school funding

Philadelphia Inquirer
9/28: Pa. Supreme Court opens door to school funding overhaul

Chalkbeat Philadelphia
9/28: In victory for advocates, Supreme Court rules that school funding lawsuit can go ahead

Education Week
9/28: Pennsylvania Supreme Court Orders School Funding Trial

August 2017

Generocity
8/22: We are the counter force

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
8/1: Court settlement finalized with Pine-Richland regarding transgender bathrooms

July 2017

WHYY
7/27: Philly schools failing to prevent bullying of disabled students, complaint alleges

Keystone Crossroads
7/20: Refugee education lawsuit will cost Lancaster schools more than $600K next year

NBC Sunday Night With Megyn Kelly
7/9: Deborah Gordon Klehr in charter school interview with NBC’

Philadelphia Tribune
7/8: City’s public schools, education beneficiaries of new state budget

Chalkbeat Philadelphia
7/7: School Reform Commission approves new in-house special education program

Public News Service
7/6: State Education Budget Called Better, But Still Short

June 2017

Chalkbeat Philadelphia
6/22: Pa. Guidelines for School Discipline May Change

WHYY
6/21: Op-ed: Permitting Concealed Guns in Pa. Schools Would Make Kids Less Safe

Pittsburgh NPR News Station
6/20: Advocates Push for Limiting Suspensions in Early Grades, While PPS Board Weighs Options

Chalkbeat Philadelphia
6/13: Thursday’s SRC meeting: 112 pages of resolutions, dozens of new policies 

May 2017

Delco Daily Times
5/7: Editorial: The shameful inequity in Pa. school funding

WHYY
5/3: Advocates want the district to end suspensions of elementary school students

The Incline
5/2: Pittsburgh Public Schools claimed a pencil was a weapon and expelled a student. The courts disagree.

Philadelphia Inquirer
5/1: Letter: Re-think placing children in a facility like Wordsworth

April 2017

Chalkbeat Philadelphia
4/27: Advocates seek ban on suspensions of young students

Keystone Crosswords
4/27: Quirk in Pa. charter law cripples traditional districts while giving charters ‘cash cow’

Philadelphia Tribune
4/5: State bill would halt suspensions up to sixth grade

March 2017

LancasterOnline
3/29: School District of Lancaster settles refugee lawsuit, ending legal battle with ACLU

The Sentinel
3/28: Letter: “Inner city” comments by Eichelberger ‘vitriolic’ 

PennLive
3/26: Lawmakers need to come through for school kids this #PABudget season

WITF and Keystone Crossroads
3/23: Keystone Crossroads: Education Equity

Public News Service
3/15: Report Finds PA School Funding Inadequate, Unfair

Philadelphia Tribune
3/10: New education report slams Pennsylvania school funding

February 2017

Newsworks WHYY
2/13: Can we call it a comeback for Philly Catholic schools?

FindLaw
2/9: Refugee Students Can Go to International School Under EEOA 

Public Opinion
2/8: Local lawmakers open-minded to governor’s budget proposal

Public News Service
2/8: Tight State Budget Proposal Boosts Education

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
2/7: Higher education gets little in Wolf’s budget; $100 million more proposed for K-12

January 2017

The Philadelphia Tribune
1/28: State Dept. of Education requests feedback

The Chronicle of Social Change
1/27: California Fails to Comply with Federal Law Aimed at Improving Foster Youth’s Educational Stability

Philadelphia Inquirer
1/18: In Philadelphia, public-school advocates cringe at DeVos hearing, while school-choice supporters see opportunity

December 2016

LancasterOnline
12/8: School District of Lancaster: ACLU wants nearly $2M to recoup refugee education lawsuit costs

November 2016

Philadelphia Inquirer
11/13: Under improved truancy law, Pa. parents still face jail and even higher fines

October 2016

The Legal Intelligencer
10/21: The ELC Protects Students Learning to Speak English

Chalkbeat Philadelphia
10/20: English learners caught in competition for funding

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
10/9: Penn Hills hoodie ban lifted, but questions remain

September 2016

Philadelphia Inquirer
9/14: High court hears education-funding case in Philly

August 2016

PhillyVoice
8/26: Refugees allowed to go to Lancaster school after judge rules ‘the law is clear’

PennLive
8/26: Refugees win lawsuit allowing them to attend Lancaster high school

Newsworks WHYY
8/19: Philly will no longer suspend kindergarten students

Philadelphia Inquirer
8/19: SRC curtails suspensions for kindergartners and dress code violators

LancasterOnline
8/17: Refugee students testify about education at Phoenix Academy: ‘Even if I graduate, I will know nothing’

LancasterOnline
8/16: District’s attorney: Refugee students aren’t getting academic help because they ‘aren’t asking for it’

July 2016

Chalkbeat Philadelphia
7/19: Federal lawsuit filed against Lancaster district for its treatment of older immigrant students 

June 2016

Chalkbeat Philadelphia
6/17: Does Pa. provide a ‘thorough and efficient’ education? A panel considers.

May 2016

Philadelphia Inquirer
5/23: Letter to the Editor: Make Philadelphia Schools Safe Havens

Public News Service
5/4: Educators Call for Permanent Funding Formula

Philadelphia Tribune
5/3: School advocates press support for new funding formula

April 2016

Philadelphia Inquirer
4/28: School advocates to state: Add cash to new funding formula

Philadelphia Inquirer
4/20: Letters: Ease up on school suspensions

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
4/17: Western Pa. schools craft policies to protect transgender students

YouthToday
4/7: Will ESSA Raise College Access, Track Graduation Rates for Foster Youth?

March 2016 

US News and World Report
3/23: Many School Districts Don’t Have Enough School Nurses

Delaware County Times
3/17: Haverford board votes to support William Penn School District in lawsuit

Chalk Beat NY
3/8: Beyond the viral video: Inside educators’ emotional debate about ‘no excuses’ discipline

February 2016

Philadelphia Tribune
2/19: High court ruling on SRC power could be far reaching

Chalkbeat Philadelphia
2/17: Reactions to court decision stripping SRC of special powers

The Patriot News
2/17: Impact of court decision on Philly charter schools extends beyond that city’s borders, group say

Philadelphia Tribune
2/16: Officials talk about aging city school buildings

Philly.com
2/16: School funding crisis deserves its day in court

December 2015

Delaware County Daily Times
12/7: Guest Column: Pa.’s budget impasse spells disaster for the most needy