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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2017 - 2018
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | May 18, 2018 05:48 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Patrick M. Browne |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Educational Success and School Stability for At-Risk Students - amendments to Juvenile Act |
| I plan to re-introduce SB 1271, which amends Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) to ensure that courts address school stability of a child placed in dependent care. The legislation amends Section 6332 (informal hearing) and Section 6351 (disposition of dependent child) of the Juvenile Act (Title 42) to require the courts to make findings to ensure that a child in foster care remains in the same school the child attended prior to placement in out-of-home care or any change of placement unless the court determines that remaining in the same school would be contrary to the child's safety or well-being. It is well-documented that students in foster care experience lower academic achievement, lower standardized test scores, and higher dropout rates than their non-foster care peers. This legislation intends to remedy this unfortunate reality. The bill requires the court to make findings regarding whether school stability is in the child’s best interests. It establishes a presumption in favor of providing the child with school stability unless the court determines that remaining in a prior school is contrary to the safety or best interests of the child. It stipulates that transportation to maintain school stability shall be provided in accordance with all requirements set forth in the Public School Code and any applicable contractual agreement. I hope you will join me in supporting this important legislation that intends to minimize the educational disruption experienced by children in foster care. |
Introduced as SB1112