What does ELC-PA do?
For an explanation of ELC-PA’s work, please go to our About page.

Is ELC-PA part of a school district or state ?
No.  ELC-PA is a private, nonprofit public interest law firm that advocates for the rights of public school students.  are not funded by or part of a school district or any federal or state agency, and we are not part of any child welfare agency.

The Education Law Center-PA’s mission is to ensure access to a quality public education for all children in Pennsylvania. We pursue this mission by focusing on the most underserved students: children living in poverty, children of color, children with disabilities, children in the foster care and juvenile justice systems, children experiencing homelessness, multilingual learners, LGBTQ+ and gender-diverse students – and many who are at the intersection of these identities.

I’m having a problem with my child’s public school.  What can ELC-PA do for me?
We have lots of resources and advocacy tools that might be able to help solve your problem.  You can also contact our Helpline at 267-436-6095 (Eastern and Central PA), 412-258-2120 (Western PA).

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

What happens when I call or e-mail ELC-PA?
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 business days. Please note that we do not have the capacity to represent every individual who calls ELC-PA. We

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

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

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

What other issues does ELC address?
Please see our Issues landing page here. Please note, ELC-PA does not handle issues relating to teacher contracts, child custody, or non education-related child welfare issues.