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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2021 - 2022
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | December 10, 2020 11:56 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Jeanne McNeill |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Students Involved in School District Residency Disputes |
| When residency disputes between school districts occur across Pennsylvania, it can take weeks or more for such disputes to be fully resolved. However, current law allows the young student involved to be removed from school by the school district they had been attending until the dispute has been resolved. Indeed, one such occurrence in my area is of particular concern, as it involves a student with a disability who, for more than 30 days, has been without the supportive educational instruction and caring support they so importantly need. This is completely unacceptable, as the child suffers and is being victimized while the adult officials work to resolve the dispute. It is our duty as public servants to do everything in our power to protect all Pennsylvanians. In particular, we must be certain to responsibly and conscientiously address the needs of children, especially children with special needs who are among our most vulnerable citizens. With this in mind, my legislation will provide that, in the event of a residency dispute between school districts, a school district would not be permitted to remove a child from school until the dispute has been fully resolved and it has been determined which school district should correctly enroll the child. We simply cannot allow the ball to be dropped in such a seemingly callous, uncaring manner, particularly when it involves the education and care of our children. Please join me by co-sponsoring this legislation to help fully preserve the rights of all children across Pennsylvania to receive the free public education they are promised |
Introduced as HB458