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Grade-repeating bill sent to Wolf for approval

Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman, R-Bellefonte, speaks on behalf of Senate Bill 664 on the Senate floor.

The state Legislature has approved legislation giving parents the option to allow their children to repeat a grade level due to learning disruptions caused by COVID-19.

Senate Bill 664, sponsored by Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman, R-Bellefonte, would give parents the power to make the decision on whether their child should advance to the next grade level by July 15. The bill would only apply to the 2021-22 school year to address learning gaps related to the pandemic.

The legislation was passed by the Senate on May 12 unanimously, was passed in the House of Representatives unanimously on June 23 and then passed again by the Senate in a concurrence vote unanimously. One complicating issue is that Gov. Tom Wolf has 10 days to sign the legislation, which would leave only about 10 days for parents to make their decision.

“I have been hearing concerns from many fellow parents on how the pandemic has affected their child’s education and created learning gaps from much of the past year learning at home,” Corman said. “Some students have struggled, and it makes sense to give parents a stronger say in whether their child should advance to the next grade level or repeat a grade to make up for learning loss.”

Senate Bill 664 would also allow parents the option to extend enrollment in special education programs for an extra year due to COVID-19.

This provision would prevent students with special needs from aging out of the system at age 21 after missing out on much of the specialized attention they need due to COVID-19 disruptions. In addition, the bill would extend eligibility for programs under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act during the next school year. The bill would also apply to parents and children who attend schools responsible for the education of deaf and blind students.

The bill is supported by The Arc of Pennsylvania and other advocates for Pennsylvanians who have disabilities. House Bill 909, sponsored by Rep. Melissa Shusterman, D-Chester/Montgomery, was incorporated into Senate Bill 664. Shusterman’s focus was on special education students who she felt were shortchanged by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Shusterman’s H.B. 909 and S.B. 664 would also allow students with an individualized education plan who have turned 21 (aged out) since the disaster emergency proclamation on March 6, 2020, to continue their enrollment in school for remainder of 2021-2 academic year.

“Virtual learning was a viable option for many students last year in the midst of a global pandemic. However, students enrolled in special education have unique needs that were not always met through computerized classrooms,” Shusterman said. “If parents feel that their child needs to repeat a grade level, particularly parents of special education students, that option should be available to them. Online schooling was the only option for almost an entire school year and that’s not suitable for everyone, so I want to make sure that students are getting the most out of their education here in Pennsylvania.”

Neighboring Ohio is debating similar legislation, but it is being spurred by athletics. Under a measure introduced this week by GOP Sen. Andrew Brenner, of Delaware, and Democratic Sen. Teresa Fedor, of Toledo, students who just finished their senior year could re-enroll in 12th grade this fall to take the same classes and get another round of eligibility for sports. A separate House bill sponsored by Reps. Dontavius Jarrells, D-Columbus, and Brett Hillyer, R-Uhrichsville, would establish a program in which high schoolers could seek their district’s permission to repeat or supplement the courses they took this school year, and pursue additional eligibility for athletics. Kentucky already created a similar program for students.

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