Act 16 was signed into law on June 28, 2019 and addresses a variety of School Code provisions. Pennsylvania Establishes Tuition Waver for Foster Youth Part of the many School Code revisions established in Act 16 of 2019, the Fostering Independence Through Education Act establishes a tuition and fee waiver opportunity for youth in foster care who enroll in Pennsylvania colleges and … [Read more...] about Pennsylvania’s Act 16 Addresses Many School Issues, Including Tuition Wavers for Foster Youth
Governor Signs Bill Clarifying Requirements for School Security Personnel to Carry Firearms
Act 44 of 2018, enacted on June 22, 2018, established several school safety programs, including the Safe2Say Program and mandatory safety training for school staff. The law also highlighted differences between the role and duties of a school police officer and a school security guard, and limited the law enforcement officers who are eligible to act as school resource officers. Several months … [Read more...] about Governor Signs Bill Clarifying Requirements for School Security Personnel to Carry Firearms
Challenge: Create a More Resilient Community
On June 17, 2019, 300 local educators, social workers, police officers, and others gathered in support of the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley's Resilient Lehigh Valley initiative. All in attendance learned about the pervasiveness of traumatic experiences within the community, and the many ways in which trauma can manifest itself. KingSpry proudly sponsored the conference. Attorneys from … [Read more...] about Challenge: Create a More Resilient Community
Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court Expands Internal Predecisional Exception Under Right To Know Law
As a matter of first impression, a three-judge panel of the Commonwealth Court recently considered whether information shared between a government agency and its contractors is considered “internal to the agency,” and therefore exempt from disclosure under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law (RTKL). The Court held that the public interest is best served by considering communications between an … [Read more...] about Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court Expands Internal Predecisional Exception Under Right To Know Law
PDE Issues a Revised Basic Educational Circular (“BEC”) on Charter Schools
This past month, PDE issued its first revised BEC on charter schools since 2004. The BEC provides guidance to both school districts and charter schools on a range of issues from how initial charter applications should be reviewed by a school district to expectations regarding a charter school’s operations, to relevant factors to consider in a non-renewal or revocation of a charter. The May 2019 … [Read more...] about PDE Issues a Revised Basic Educational Circular (“BEC”) on Charter Schools
Superior Court Addresses Enforcement of Post Adoption Contact Agreements
On March 21, the Superior Court issued its first decision regarding enforcement of Post Adoption Contact Agreements (“PACAs”), In re Adoption of B.G.W. The case involved a private infant adoption. Through a PACA, the birth and adoptive parents agreed that the child’s birth mother (“BM”) would have at least three visits per year with the child, for at least 2 hours each visit. At the first … [Read more...] about Superior Court Addresses Enforcement of Post Adoption Contact Agreements
