SHARE:  
Join Our Email List
Education Law Center

April News: Join us at Harrisburg rally on Monday; why we shouldn't criminalize truancy; attorneys talk juvenile justice in Washington, DC
Last chance to catch the (free) bus to Harrisburg and rally for fair school funding on May 2nd
Years of neglect and stagnation in Harrisburg have left our children waiting for far too long. That's why we want you to join Education Law Center and members of the Campaign for Fair Education Funding in Harrisburg on May 2nd to rally for fair funding! Register now to reserve your spot on a free bus from Philadelphia or Pittsburgh, PA.
Why we shouldn't criminalize truancy
Education Law Center Senior Staff Attorney Maura McInerney wrote an op-ed in Newsworks WHYY explaining why threatening criminal charges to address student truancy is the wrong approach.
Attorneys talk juvenile justice and education at first convening of new national legal center
The Legal Center for Youth Justice and Education, a new collaborative of the Education Law Center, Juvenile Law Center, Southern Poverty Law Center, and American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law, held its first convening of over 60 national experts this month in Washington, DC. We are excited to help lead this work to ensure that all children in the juvenile and criminal justice systems can access their right to a quality education. 
Education Law Center:  "We must ensure that schools are safe and free from discrimination for all students."
School districts across Pennsylvania are slowly changing their policies to better protect transgender students from discrimination and bullying. Education Law Center Staff Attorney Cheryl Kleiman was quoted by TribLive on the importance of fighting discrimination in schools. 
Alternatives to zero tolerance and exclusionary school discipline featured
The Philadelphia Inquirer  ran a front page story this month on how some schools are swapping suspensions and expulsions for superior alternatives, but some students continue to face harsh discipline. From the article:

"While the decrease in suspensions in the Philadelphia schools is significant, [Education Law Center Executive Director Deborah Gordon Klehr] said, the punishments still target a disproportionate number of African Americans and students with disabilities. And she called it "troubling" that more than 400 kindergarten students were suspended." 
Testimony presented on education for youth experiencing homeless 
Independence Foundation Public Interest Law Fellow and Education Law Center attorney Alex Dutton provided testimony to Philadelphia City Council on the barriers students experiencing homelessness face in receiving a quality education. 
New federal law may contain tools to improve access to education for foster youth
An article in YouthToday  this month covered the potential for the Every Student Succeeds Act to improve school stability for vulnerable youth by encouraging data-sharing polices.  Education Law Center Senior Staff Attorney Maura McInerney was quoted in the article discussing some benefits of a pilot program in Allegheny County. 
Education Law Center attends Inaugural Black Girl Movement Conference
Earlier this month, with the support of the NoVo Foundation and as part of our work to advance education justice for Black girls, Staff Attorney Cheryl Kleiman, along with youth partners, attended the Black Girl Movement conference, a three-day gathering at Columbia University. Cheryl joined educators, policymakers, advocates, and Black girl leaders to acknowledge their achievements, contributions, and leadership, and discuss strategies to more intentionally center Black girls in our work. 
Juvenile Probation Officers brush up on education rights
Stoneleigh Emerging Leader Fellow and Education Law Center attorney Ashley Sawyer trained all of Philadelphia County's juvenile probation officers (JPOs) on the education needs and rights of the students in their care. JPOs learned about the rights of English Language Learning students inside juvenile justice facilities as well as the rights of students with disabilities. 
"A formula is only as good as the funding that goes through it."
Education Law Center Executive Director Deborah Gordon Klehr stood alongside the Public Interest Law Center, Education Voters of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center, and Public Citizens for Children and Youth this month to call on Harrisburg to provide adequate and equitable school funding through the state's new funding formula. 
Join the Campaign for Fair Education Funding
Alongside 50 organizations across Pennsylvania, Education Law Center is a leading member of the Campaign for Fair Education Funding. Click below to read more about our efforts to ensure that every student has access to a quality education no matter where he or she lives.
United Way Donor Choice Codes: 1873 (Southeastern PA); 4547 (Allegheny County)

A copy of the Education Law Center's official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling 1-800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.  
Ensuring access to a quality public education for all children in Pennsylvania
 
Like us on Facebook   Follow us on Twitter   View our profile on LinkedIn