ELC-PA Highlights
'Education for Students Experiencing Homelessness Awareness Week' | | |
More than 52,000 children and youth in Pennsylvania experienced homelessness during the 2024-25 school year, a number that rises every year. During Pennsylvania’s Education for Students Experiencing Homelessness Awareness Week, Nov. 16-20, ELC-PA is highlighting the importance of enforcing the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, which provides stability, continuity, and access to a quality education for children and youth experiencing homelessness across the Commonwealth.
As a member of the PA Youth Homelessness Coalition, last month ELC-PA joined more than 90 non-profits, community organizations, and school districts in urging the Governor to invest $10 million in a new grant program to support students experiencing homelessness across Pennsylvania. The proposed Homeless Education AWARDS legislation (House Bill 2796), would fund initiatives to improve attendance, academic achievement, and graduation rates.
This legislation will also be featured at a Nov. 10 event at the state Capitol, beginning with a 10 a.m. press conference in the Capitol Media Center.
| | ELC-PA Challenges Unlawful School Exclusion of Children Experiencing Homelessness | | |
A Pennsylvania school district unlawfully disenrolled two children experiencing homelessness, depriving them of one of the few sources of stability in their lives. ELC-PA represented the children, who lived with their family in a legally substandard camper, moving between campgrounds every few weeks because they lacked access to alternative housing. Although the district previously recognized the children as experiencing homelessness, it illegally disenrolled them at the end of the school year, claiming that they no longer qualified for protections due to the passage of time.
The children’s parent challenged the district’s decision, filing complaints at both the local and state levels. By the end of the summer, the district still had not allowed the children to return to school, despite their legal right to enrollment during the dispute resolution process.
When ELC-PA intervened, our attorneys discovered that the state had denied the parent’s appeal in June without notifying them. This resulted in the children being illegally excluded from school for several weeks. ELC-PA quickly filed a Request for Reconsideration, documenting the family’s substandard housing conditions, including storm damage that had left them without electricity.
The state granted our request in early September, allowing the children to immediately re-enroll in school while the underlying dispute continues. The decision restored their access to education and a critical source of stability as their family continues to navigate housing insecurity.
| | New Report Examines Discriminatory Dress and Grooming Codes in Public Schools | | |
ELC-PA and the Center for Racial and Economic Justice at UC Law SF (CREJ), have released a new research and policy primer, Dress and Grooming Codes in Public Schools, through our Black Girls Education Justice Initiative.
Co-authored by ELC-PA Senior Attorney Paige Joki and ELC-PA Legal Intern Keeley Ausburn alongside UC Law SF partners, the primer examines how dress and grooming policies, while often justified as promoting "safety” or "reducing distractions," directly and disproportionately harm students of color, particularly Black girls and LGBTQ+ students. Drawing on contemporary research, it explores how schools' rampant use of subjective and exclusionary dress and grooming rules fuels school pushout, deprives students of educational opportunities, and reduces instructional time.
We encourage school board members, administrators, educators, policymakers, students, and families to read and share this important resource. As schools review their policies and practices, this primer offers timely legal and policy guidance for creating learning environments that respect student rights, safeguard against discrimination, and advance educational equity.
| | Lawsuit Dismissed: PHRC Regulations Defining Gender Identity and Race Discrimination Remain in Effect | | |
In March 2025, several school districts, parents, and others filed a lawsuit challenging the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission's authority to issue 2023 regulations that clarified definitions for discrimination based on race and religious creed, and defined sex discrimination to include gender identity. ELC-PA criticized this baseless challenge to the regulations and has been monitoring the case closely.
On October 9, 2026, the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania dismissed all claims in that lawsuit. The court held that none of the petitioners had sufficient standing to proceed with their claims, meaning that they failed to show a real concrete controversy about something that directly harms them. Because the parties did not have standing, the court did not address the merits of petitioners' arguments that the regulations violated the law. ELC-PA has updated our analysis of the lawsuit; learn more here. PHRC regulations remain in effect, and families can learn more about submitting discrimination complaints to PHRC in our fact sheet.
| | Back-to-School Guide:
Translations are Now Available | | |
ICYMI: Our annual Back to School Guide, a compilation of fact sheets, analyses, and self-advocacy tools that offer rights-based information to families and child-serving professionals is now online — and portions of the guide are now available in several languages!
Click here for a list of our translated resources, and our full Back to School Guide is here.
| | ELC-PA Marks
National Bullying Prevention Month | | |
Every student deserves to feel safe and supported at school. Yet bullying and harassment remain persistent problems across Pennsylvania schools. During the 2025-26 school year, the state’s Safe2Say Something program received 4,314 anonymous tips involving bullying or cyberbullying.
Bullying and harassment can harm students’ mental health, disrupt learning, and lead to school avoidance. When students are targeted with comments, slurs, or offensive conduct based on their race, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or religion, it may qualify as harassment that requires prompt and serious intervention from schools. Bullying and harassment should always be reported to trusted school staff and school leaders, as all school staff have a legal obligation to intervene and protect students by ensuring a safe and supportive school environment.
As we close out October’s National Bullying Prevention Month, ELC-PA remains committed to ensuring safe, inclusive schools for all students. Families and advocates can explore our bullying and harassment resources or contact our Helpline at 215-238-6970 (eastern/central PA) or 412-258-2120 (western PA) for individual assistance.
We also recently welcomed to our staff Sarah Berton, an Equal Justice Works law fellow whose work focuses on addressing bullying and harassment in school. To request a Know Your Rights training or explore partnership opportunities, contact Sarah at sberton@elc-pa.org. Learn more about her project here.
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Election Day is tomorrow, Tuesday, Nov 3. There are competitive races across Pennsylvania that will shape education policy in Pennsylvania and nationally.
Make sure that your voice is heard! Make a plan to exercise your right to vote. Find your polling place here.
| | December 1 is Giving Tuesday: Save the Date | | |
Celebrate #GivingTuesday with Education Law Center-PA on Dec. 1! On this global day of giving, please consider supporting ELC-PA with a gift of any size.
As we look ahead to 2027, we invite you to help advance education justice for all students.
Follow our social media accounts for updates.
| | Check Out Our Job Postings! | | Education Law Center-PA | 215-238-6970 (Philadelphia) | 412-258-2120 (Pittsburgh) | | A copy of the official registration and financial information of the Education Law Center-PA may be obtained from the Department of State by calling toll-free, within Pennsylvania, 1-880-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement. | | | | |
