The Pennsylvania Department of Health’s immunization regulations require parents or guardians of students enrolled in grades K-12 to have their children immunized against various diseases in order to protect the health and safety of all students. ELC has compiled a fact sheet to help families navigate these requirements.
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Your Right to Be Free from Sexual Orientation Discrimination at School
This 2018 ELC Fact Sheet details rights of lesbian, gay, and bisexual students, including the right to be safe in school, the right to be out, and the right to privacy.
Your Right to Be Free from Gender Identity Discrimination
This 2018 ELC Fact Sheet details rights of transgender and gender-noncomforming students, addressing access to facilities, expressing your gender identity, and the right to be safe at school. “Gender identity” is a person’s sense of themselves as a boy, a girl, both a boy and girl, or neither boy or girl.
School Facilities and Health Hazards in Philadelphia: What Parents Need to Know
What Can a Parent Do if a Child has a Health Problem that Requires Support or Services in School? Fact Sheet
FAQ: Truancy & School Attendance in Pennsylvania under Act 138
HB 97: Inadequate Charter School Reform
April 2017 – A responsible charter school law must empower local governing bodies to strategically control charter growth as a tool to increase quality options and improve our system of public education for all students. The charter school law should not force blind expansion on already burdened systems and compel the loss of neighborhood school options. HB 97 is deficient as it stands. This fact sheet focuses on the key problem areas of this proposed charter reform bill. For ELC’s full response to HB 97, see our letter to the House Education Committee sent on April 24, 2017.
Pennsylvania’s New Truancy Law
Governor Wolf signed new truancy legislation into law on Thursday, November 3, 2016. Here is an overview of key provisions.
Pennsylvania’s New Truancy Law (Extended Version)
Governor Wolf signed new truancy legislation into law on Thursday, November 3, 2016. This factsheet highlights important provisions of the new law relating to the rights of families, and obligations and roles of schools, courts, and children and youth agencies. Key departures from the prior truancy law are in red.
School Discipline in Pennsylvania
This fact sheet, updated in March, 2016, covers the basics of school discipline in Pennsylvania. This fact sheet applies to all public schools, including charter schools, in the state.
Rights of English Language Learners & Families with Limited English Proficiency
This fact sheet provides an outline of the rights of English language learners (ELL) and/or families of students with limited English proficiency.
ELC Fact Sheet : Act 26
Act 26 is a Pennsylvania law which requires the expulsion for at least one year of any student who possesses a weapon on school property, at a school function, or going to and from school. Many students have faced expulsion as a result of this law. Review the complete fact sheet for more information.
ELC Fact Sheet: Education Decision Makers
The Education Law Center and Juvenile Law Center have developed a fact sheet to explain important educational decision maker rules, including Pennsylvania’s Juvenile Court Procedural Rules (Rules 1147 and 147) requiring judges to appoint an “Educational Decision Maker” for children who have no parent or guardian to make education decisions for them, or when a court concludes that appointing an EDM is in the best interest of a child.
In addition, under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, school districts have a duty to appoint a “surrogate parent” for children with special education needs under specific circumstances.
ELC Parent Guide: Alternative Education Transfers in Philadelphia
The following information guide for parents and guardians provides important information if the School District of Philadelphia wants to transfer a child to an “alternative education program” (such as Camelot or Phase 4) because of a disciplinary incident.
ELC Fact Sheet: Opting Out of Standardized Tests
A 2014 ELC Fact Sheet providing legal guidance and resource links for questions about opting out of PSSA and Keystone Exams.
ELC Toolkit: School Success for Students Without Homes
This collection of “tools” is intended to help parents and providers ensure school success for children and youth (ages 3-21) in Pennsylvania who are experiencing homelessness. The toolkit provides information about important laws and explains legal rights and how to use them.
ELC Parent and Advocate Guide: Right to Special Education
This guide provides clearly explained legal rules for special education and early intervention programs in Pennsylvania for children from ages three to 21.
ELC Guide on Education Laws Impacting English Language Learners
The Education Law Center’s guide to the rights of English language learners in Pennsylvania’s public schools outlines basic rights for ELL students and their families. It also provides resource links for additional information.
ELC Fact Sheet on Education for Homeless Youth
Youth who are experiencing homelessness have special rights under a federal law called the McKinney-Vento Act. This fact sheet provides information and resources for homeless youth regarding their education rights under that federal law.
ELC School Enrollment Guide for Older Youth
This step-by-step fact sheet can help older youth enroll themselves in school quickly. It also provides contact information and the necessary forms for school enrollment.