We are writing to ask you to sign on to a letter (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IKoYccZzMDV4VFjA36tauokueepG7XFTQlJICvjtrdc/edit?usp=sharing) in support of important legislation to protect and advance the educational rights of students with experience in the foster care and juvenile justice systems and students experiencing homelessness. Juvenile Law Center and Education Law Center are advocating for the passage of S.B. 324 “Fostering a Smooth Transition for Graduation,” which Senators Langerholc and Browne introduced earlier this year.

The Bill aims to facilitate the school transfer process. The text of the Bill appears here: https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2021&sind=0&body=S&type=B&bn=0324.

Key provisions of the bill include assigning a point of contact to assist youth with transitioning to a new school, creating individualized graduation plans for high school students, ensuring youth get partial or full credit for academic work done at previous schools, requiring schools to timely request and send academic transcripts, and providing multiple credit make-up and high school diploma options for youth with multiple school transfers.

Please sign on by 12 p.m. on Wednesday, June 2, 2021.

We hope you will join us in asking members of the Pennsylvania Senate Education Committee and Senate Leadership to support S.B. 324.

Any questions, please contact Kate Burdick (JLC) at kburdick@jlc.org or Margie Wakelin (ELC) at mwakelin@elc-pa.org.