edlawcenterpa.bsky.social - Profile | ThreadSky | a Reddit-style client for Bluesky

Grim news: "a 5-alarm fire, burning statistics that we need to understand and improve education" "The distribution of roughly $16B in federal Title I aid to low-income schools cannot be calculated...without this data. Now the statisticians who know how to run the complicated formula are also gone."

submitted 2 days ago • 0 comments

What's in Governor Shapiro's proposed #PABudget for education? Learn more today (Thursday) at noon from our education policy experts, including ELC's exec director Deborah Gordon Klehr. It's not too late to register at: ow.ly/r9Xa50VeZJm

submitted 3 days ago • 0 comments

“This is devastating for American education and our students. This will strip students of equitable education, place our most vulnerable at great risk and set back educational success that for many will last their lifetimes,” said Katie Dullum, an OCR deputy director who resigned last Friday.

submitted 4 days ago • 0 comments

US Department of Education is under immediate threat. Gutting or eliminating the dept will not only mean less funding for our most underfunded schools and underserved students; it will undermine civil rights enforcement and deprive states & districts of valuable guidance. www.cnn.com/2025/03/11/p...

submitted 4 days ago • 0 comments

Want to use your voice to protect the Department of Education and public education? NEA has created messaging guidance and communications tools to get you started! www.nea.org/resource-lib...

submitted 6 days ago • 0 comments

The suit challenges the Ed Dept’s Dear Colleague Letter that threatened federal funding cuts for engaging in DEI work. They say ED is -imposing unfounded, vague legal restrictions violating the 1st Amendment -limiting academic freedom -dictating what educators can teach www.nea.org/about-nea/me...

submitted 8 days ago • 0 comments

The White House today delayed the expected signing of an executive order dismantling the US Dept of Education! Cuts to programs and services for underserved students are still a threat. We & our allies will keep fighting the threatened dismantling of this vital federal department. #protectourkids

submitted 9 days ago • 0 comments

We sent an open letter today with @womenslawproject.bsky.social to the executive director and board of PIAA, stating that their revised policies & recent statements on transgender student athletes’ participation in middle & high school athletics violate state & federal law. More here buff.ly/WhCljse

submitted 10 days ago • 0 comments

ELC applauds the denial of a restraining order. “There is significant legal authority for trans kids’ right to play, based on federal appeals court decisions...Colonial’s policy acknowledges that it’s required in Pennsylvania to allow trans students to play sports aligned with the gender identity.”

submitted 10 days ago • 0 comments

It's National School Breakfast Week, and the Food Research & Action Center reminds us that our activism is needed on a number of issues. This includes telling Congress to oppose any cuts to school meals. You can do that with one click here: buff.ly/7VBCXhO

submitted 10 days ago • 0 comments

"Republican budget proposals already call for significant cuts to school meals programs and programs overseen by the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which include Medicaid. Those are important sources of money for public schools. And public education supporters fear even steeper reductions."

submitted 11 days ago • 0 comments

Agree with state Sen. Culver. Pennsylvanians don't want to wait more than a few months for cyber charter funding reform. www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/03...

submitted 11 days ago • 0 comments

We applaud all the teachers who are taking a stand in today's day of action, defending public education, fighting funding cuts, and supporting the critical role the US Department of Education plays in protecting students’ rights. #PHLed

submitted 12 days ago • 0 comments

Check out our March newsletter! Taking Action on State Budget, Making Schools Safe for Immigrant Students, Defending Diversity and Equity, and More! conta.cc/4i1Ty7w Learn what we're working on plus a bit about ELC's 50 years. Subscribe if you want to receive it monthly www.elc-pa.org/subscribe/

submitted 12 days ago • 0 comments

NB to districts: “It doesn’t mean anything if me, at Ed Law Center, says ‘This is what the district says they’ll do,’” Moon said. “Folks need to hear from their own principal ‘This is what we are going to do if approached [by ICE]; this is how I'll handle it. And I recognize your rights under law.’”

submitted 15 days ago • 0 comments

The new, 6-episode Eyes on the Prize III series launched this week to critical acclaim. There are few better entry points for learning about Black history - and the role of social movements and ordinary people in the struggle - than the three installments of this series, which debuted in 1987.

submitted 16 days ago • 0 comments

“When we strip library shelves of books about particular groups, we defeat the purpose of a library collection that is supposed to reflect the lives of all people."

submitted 17 days ago • 0 comments

TODAY at 7pm: @raceforward.org continues its series of discussions about the #PublicSchoolStrong campaign, responding to the direct attacks on public education growing out of Project 2025. Tonight's topic Education For All: Defending Targeted Students Register here: www.mobilize.us/raceforward/...

submitted 18 days ago • 0 comments

.@PHLSchools will continue allowing students to compete in sports that align with their gender identity. "Kristina Moon, an attorney with ELC, said Trump’s executive order does not carry the weight of law or supersede Title IX, state law preventing gender discrimination, or multiple court decisions"

submitted 18 days ago • 0 comments

PA school districts are sometimes accused of using increased funding to pad their fund balances. Testimony at Monday's budget hearing points to that trend - not in PA school districts but among charters (particularly cybers). @governorshapiro.bsky.social's cyber reform proposal would rein that in.

submitted 19 days ago • 0 comments

Livestream all day. See details about governor's budget proposal: houseappropriations.com Hearing is highlighting important needs being addressed with added state funding: mental health supports (social workers, psychologists), new special ed classrooms, full-day kindergarten, dual enrollment, etc.

submitted 20 days ago • 0 comments

"Education is the foundation for independence, inclusion, & a future with choices." The US Dept of Education plays a crucial role supporting students w disabilities: providing essential programs & enforcing the law. We must keep it intact to ensure these students receive the education they deserve.

submitted 23 days ago • 0 comments

A new audit of 5 cyber charters by PA's auditor general found them accumulating "excessive" fund balances due to a tuition rate in state law "not aligned to the actual costs of providing an online education." PA needs to implement a fixed tuition rate for cybers! paauditor.b-cdn.net/wp-content/u...

submitted 23 days ago • 1 comment

Important legal action yesterday from LDF & Lambda Legal. The lawsuit claims the executive orders violate plaintiffs’ 1st Amendment right to free speech by censoring/chilling their views on diversity, equity, inclusion & accessibility; and executive orders are vague on what is and is not prohibited.

submitted 24 days ago • 0 comments

Education Equity Forum: Tonight! Attend in person or livestream it. Our commitment to educational equity is resolute. buff.ly/3QdVM7o

submitted 25 days ago • 0 comments

Shapiro nominates former Beaver County superintendent to helm Pa. education department www.wesa.fm/education/20...

submitted 25 days ago • 0 comments

Federal unding freezes are also impacting plans to make school buildings more energy-efficient, early childhood education providers, efforts to boost pedestrian safety near school campuses, and mental health supports for middle schoolers @edweek.bsky.social reports.

submitted 25 days ago • 0 comments

Our senior attorney Kristina Moon is part of a stellar panel at a very timely “Educational Equity Forum” this Wed., Feb. 19 at 7 pm - a Philly event sponsored by the group Need in Deed. It's at the First United Methodist Church of Germantown and also is livestreamed. Register here: buff.ly/3QdVM7o

submitted 27 days ago • 0 comments

Is your school or school district doing its job honoring the rights of immigrant students? ICYMI: Please read and share our one-pager. www.elc-pa.org/wp-content/u...

submitted 27 days ago • 0 comments

Milestones from 50 yrs: ELC's 1985 suit, YS v. School District of Phila, won a consent decree requiring the district to improve its academic program: expanded ESOL instruction; more bilingual teachers, counselors & paraprofessionals; translation/interpretation services www.elc-pa.org/2025/01/30/1...

submitted 28 days ago • 0 comments

Federal policy now permits ICE enforcement actions at schools. But educators still have the right & duty to protect students' rights under the US Constitution & federal and state law. With @aclupa.org, we prepared this letter of guidance to schools on student rights. www.elc-pa.org/wp-content/u...

submitted 29 days ago • 0 comments

The US Dept of Education protects students w disabilities: "Dismantling it would deprive students of critical funding, eliminate essential guidance, severely limit state & local implementation of IEPs & related services, & erase an enforcement mechanism that has defended students’ & parents’ rights"

submitted 30 days ago • 0 comments

Two years after Commonwealth Court ruled PA's school funding system is unconstitutional, we explain that children now in kindergarten should not have to wait until high school to experience adequately funded schools. Our column, with @pubintlawctr.bsky.social, for Lancaster Newspapers:

submitted 32 days ago • 0 comments

Gov. Shapiro's budget proposal includes an essential, long-awaited reform of cyber charter tuition rates, which would cut excessive district costs. The net savings to districts of the governor's proposed cyber changes would be $265M (because a cyber tuition reimbursement fund would go away)

submitted 32 days ago • 0 comments

Two years ago today Commonwealth Court declared PA's school funding system unconstitutional, said education is a fundamental right and ordered state officials to fix the deficiencies. Students are seeing meaningful benefits from new funding. We celebrate those...and push the state to finish the job

submitted 36 days ago • 0 comments

Our view of Gov. Shapiro's budget proposal announced today. We must continue and accelerate the effort to close the state's funding gaps and bring Pennsylvania's school system into constitutional compliance.

submitted 40 days ago • 0 comments

The half-billion dollars in extra funding that has come into the state's underfunded districts is being put to good use! Here's what that looks like in the Pittsburgh area. Today, Gov. Shapiro reaffirmed that last year was just a first step; the work to close funding shortfalls must continue.

submitted 40 days ago • 0 comments

"Our Taxes, Their Slush Fund" is a stunning @edvoterspa.bsky.social report about what they found upon review of the check registers of Commonwealth Charter Academy. Cybers in PA are awash in cash, so perhaps it is no surprise to see a platinum corporate sponsorship to an exclusive corporate club.

submitted 46 days ago • 0 comments

As the commission reminds us, Pennsylvania has a strong civil rights law, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act. Whatever threats to rights come from a federal level, Pennsylvanians are still protected against discrimination. Our state "will remain a welcoming place for people of all backgrounds."

submitted 47 days ago • 1 comment

"Maura McInerney, legal director at the Education Law Center, said slashing funding would be ‘like pulling the rug out from under’ public schools that have for decades relied on federal Title I to provide extra support and services to hundreds of thousands of low-income students in Pennsylvania.”

submitted 48 days ago • 1 comment

We can't say this enough: "Transgender students’ rights weren’t dependent on Biden’s regulations—& can’t be erased by Trump’s order, said Kristina Moon, senior attorney with @EdLawCenterPA, a Phila.-based legal group that advocates for LGBTQ students." There's also State law Federal regs Case law.

submitted 50 days ago • 2 comments

"The constitutional right of students who are undocumented immigrants to be educated in our public schools is clear and remains in effect," ELC senior attorney Kristina Moon testified in Phila City Council yesterday (see Plyler v Doe). See our testimony. www.elc-pa.org/wp-content/u...

submitted 51 days ago • 1 comment

From Dr. Martin Luther King's Letter From a Birmingham Jail, inscribed on the MLK National Memorial in Washington, DC.

submitted 55 days ago • 0 comments

Don't miss this Sunday Inquirer report on a major youth policy failure in Phila. and statewide. Philly confines young people at a rate several times higher than other big cities, even though we know youth detention & confinement have negative outcomes. Abuse & lack of schooling are obvious reasons.

submitted 55 days ago • 0 comments

Check out ProPublica's new app that compares the demographic mix of private schools to the district serving their area. Here's the link for PA - showing a striking difference in the % of Hispanic students served. projects.propublica.org/private-scho...

submitted 58 days ago • 0 comments