Schools and school districts will accept completed forms until Thursday, July 15, 2021

The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) today provided information on Act 66, a new law that permits parents, guardians, and students over the age of 18 to elect to have their children or themselves repeat their grade because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

On June 30, 2021, Governor Wolf signed Act 66 of 2021 into law. The law allows students who were enrolled during the 2020-21 school year to repeat their grade level to make up for any learning loss due to the pandemic, even if the student met requirements to be promoted to the next grade level.

Additionally, Act 66 allows students with disabilities who were enrolled during the 2020-21 school year to attend a school during the 2021-22 school year and receive services detailed on their most recent Individualized Education Program (IEP) with full protections under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). These students are defined as those who turned 21 during the 2020-21 school year or turned 21 between the end of the 2020-21 school year and the beginning of the 2021-22 school year.

As required by Act 66, PDE developed and posted on its website a standard form for parents, guardians, and students at or over the age of 18 to notify school entities of their plan to remain in the current grade level and/or school for the upcoming school year. The completed form must be signed and submitted to the student’s district and/or school by July 15, 2021.

Act 66 applies to the following school entities: school district, Intermediate Unit (IU), charter or cyber charter school, regional charter school, nonpublic school, approved private schools, career and technical education centers, and chartered schools for the deaf and blind.

There are additional resources available to mitigate learning loss due to the pandemic including the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ARP ESSER). ARP ESSER will provide Pennsylvania with $4.9 billion in emergency funding to support the long-term work of education recovery. At least 90 percent, or $4.5 billion, of the fund will be distributed to eligible public-school districts and charter schools, with each entity receiving an amount proportional to the federal Title I-A funds received in 2020. Recognizing the differential effects of the pandemic and related challenges, PDE encourages schools to leverage ARP ESSER funding, as well as earlier rounds of federal emergency aid, to accelerate a return to in-person learning, while also planning for the long-term.

PDE offers a toolkit and a professional learning series to school leaders and educators to help address students’ learning loss caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. “Accelerated Learning through an Integrated System of Support” provides a voluntary process and research for school leaders to consider in preparing for the upcoming school year that addresses the academic and emotional well-being of students.

More information on Act 66 and answers to common questions can be found on PDE’s website.

More information on ARP ESSER is available on PDE’s website: education.pa.gov/ARPESSER.

More information on the Accelerated Learning toolkit and professional learning series is available on PDE’s website: education.pa.gov/AcceleratedLearning.

On June 30, 2021, Governor Tom Wolf signed Act 66 of 2021 (Act 66) into law. Act 66 permits students that were enrolled during the 2020-21 school year to repeat their grade level in an effort to make up for any lost educational opportunities due to the COVID-19 pandemic, even if the student met the requirements to be promoted to the next grade level. Parents/guardians and students, at or over the age of 18, have until July 15, 2021, to elect to have their child or themselves repeat a grade level for the 2021-22 school year. Throughout this guidance, these students are referred to as “students repeating a grade level.”  

Additionally, Act 66 permits students with disabilities who were enrolled during the 2020-21 school year and turned age 21 during the 2020-21 school year, or between the end of the 2020-21 school year and the beginning of the 2021-22 school year, to attend a school entity during the 2021-22 school year and receive services as outlined on their most recent Individualized Education Program (IEP) with all the protections under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Throughout this guidance, these students are referred to as “students staying an additional year.”

This guidance provides school entities with a summary of considerations regarding families’ decisions to repeat a grade level or remain an additional year for the 2021-22 school year. This guidance is not intended to provide legal advice – school entities should consult with their legal counsel.

Act 66 applies to students enrolled in any of the following school entities in Pennsylvania during the 2020-21 school year: a school district, intermediate unit, career and technical education center, charter school, cyber charter school, regional charter school, nonpublic school, approved private schools, and chartered schools for the deaf and blind.

Parents/guardians interested in re-enrolling their child under the above options for the 2021-22 school year must submit the Act 66 of 2021 Student Grade Level Retainment Notification Form to the school district and/or school that the student will attend in the 2021-22 school year on or before July 15, 2021. They are not to submit the form to the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE).

The form will be made available on the PDE webpage beginning Tuesday, July 6, 2021 at: https://www.education.pa.gov/Schools/safeschools/emergencyplanning/COVID-19/SchoolReopeningGuidance/ReopeningPreKto12/Pages/Student-Grade-Level-Retainment-(Act-66).aspx.

On Thursday, July 1, 2021, Governor Wolf vetoed SB 618, which would have blocked the state, as well as any county, municipality, school district, colleges and universities, from requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination in order to enter buildings, attend classes in person, or undertake any activity. State and local governmental entities would have been similarly restricted, and governments would not have been allowed to include COVID-19 vaccine status on ID cards.

The bill would also have prohibited the PA health secretary from ordering closures or directing people who have not been exposed to a contagion to physically distance, wear a mask, quarantine, or restrict their travel.

To view the bill, click here.

To read more from WFMZ, click here.

The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) has posted a spreadsheet breaking down the education funding allocations in the state budget for each school district. This morning Governor Tom Wolf signed the state budget that includes the largest state funding increase for public school students in Pennsylvania history with a $416 million increase for public education, and the groundbreaking Level Up initiative to provide an additional $100 million to the 100 lowest wealth school districts.

“The state budget invests in the places we know resources are needed the most – to help our school communities mitigate learning gaps, break down barriers, build equitable learning environments, and move forward stronger and together,” said Secretary Noe Ortega. “This budget – combined with federal funding – creates opportunities to invite our entire educational ecosystem to the table to collaboratively and inclusively problem solve, address disparities, and develop solutions that will serve our students, our future.”

The budget increases educational efforts by $416 million in state funding for public education. Budget investments include:

• $200 million increase in the Fair Funding Formula;
• $100 million to support underfunded school districts through the newly implemented Level Up initiative;
• $50 million in special education funding;
• $30 million for early education;
• $20 million for Ready to Learn;
• $11 million for preschool Early Intervention; and
• $5 million for community colleges

For a breakdown of education allocations in the state budget, please visit www.education.pa.gov/budget.