Education Law Center
Newsletter | April 2015

Editorial Boards Speak Out in Support of School Funding Lawsuit: Strong Words for Commonwealth Court

Last week the PA Commonwealth Court ruled to dismiss our school funding lawsuit challenging the state's failure to provide a thorough and efficient system of public education. As the Education Law Center, the Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia, and pro bono counsel prepare to file our appeal to the PA Supreme Court, Pennsylvania editorial boards and the community have shown strong support for our work. Here are just a few examples: 

 

Commonwealth Court ducked any responsibility for resolving or ordering a resolution for that unfair, immoral and probably illegal situation... Maybe the Supreme Court will step up to the plate and order an end to what amounts to blatant and shameful discrimination. 

 - Bucks County Courier Times, April 23, 2015.

 

The court ruling means students in poor districts will continue to receive a substandard education simply because of where they live. It means Pennsylvania will continue to fail to meet its duty to adequately and equitably fund its public schools. 

- York Daily Record, April 28, 2015

 

Read the note from Deborah Gordon Klehr, ELC Interim Executive Director, on our next steps in this lawsuit against the state to ensure fair funding for Pennsylvania schools.

 

National Press

"Pa. schools are the nation's most inequitable. The new governor wants to fix that."

The Washington Post referenced our ongoing school funding lawsuit and the nation-leading inequity in Pennsylvania's school spending. ELC Senior Staff Attorney Maura McInerney was quoted, saying: "What we're asking for is that every child have a chance to meet state standards." Read the full article. 

ELC addresses school funding on Philadelphia Bar Assoc. panel

Deborah Gordon Klehr, ELC Interim Executive Director, represented ELC on a school funding panel for the Philadelphia Bar Association's Young Lawyers Division this month. She spoke alongside Pennsylvania State Senator Vincent Hughes and Philadelphia Finance Director Rob Dubow. 

ELC invites you to join the Legal Center for Foster Care and Education to talk #FosterData this Friday

Follow @FosterEdSuccess on Twitter and join us as we chat about better outcomes for children in the foster care system from 1-2PM on Friday, 5/1. 

ELC to present at York County Truancy Prevention Summit

On May 21st, ELC will be presenting at a cross-systems summit on truancy prevention at York College of Pennsylvania. Learn more and register

Mark your calendar for Sept 16, 2015
We're planning our 40th Anniversary Celebration! If you're interested in sponsorship opportunities, please email 
[email protected] for more details.

ELC Stoneleigh Emerging Leader Fellow Ashley Sawyer holds juvenile justice training with US Department of Education

Emerging Leader Fellow Ashley Sawyer organized a well-attended, all-day educational seminar on improving outcomes for students in the juvenile justice system. Members of the US Department of Education and the Pennsylvania juvenile justice community exchanged ideas and discussed best practices. The event was held at the Philadelphia office of Reed Smith, LLP.

ELC Attorney Cheryl Kleiman interviewed for Hear Me Project podcast

The Hear Me Project, which amplifies student voices on key issues like school funding, interviewed ELC Attorney Cheryl Kleiman on the importance of fair school funding in their most recent podcast

 

"Our students lack basic educational elements - textbooks, science labs, art classes, tutoring supports - that provide them with opportunities to learn and succeed in school. These are not extras - these are basic elements of a quality education that should be available to all of our public school students - not merely those who happen to live in the right zip code."

 

Want to learn more about Fair Education Funding? 

Alongside 50 organizations across Pennsylvania, ELC is a leading member of the Campaign for Fair Education Funding. Read more on our efforts to ensure that every student has access to a quality education no matter where he or she lives.

Help support ELC's work