Testimony before the Pennsylvania House Children and Youth Committee on school stability for kids in foster care.
On October 6, Kate Burdick, Equal Justice Works Fellow sponsored by Greenberg Traurig LLP at Juvenile Law Center, testified before the Pennsylvania House Children and Youth Committee on school stability for kids in foster care.
The Committee was specifically considering two bills (HB 569 and 973) that have been introduced. Kate explained Juvenile Law Center’s support for legislation that allows children in the child welfare system to stay in the same school even if their living placements disrupt and require moving to another district.
She underscored the positive effects a stable school experience can have on a child’s overall well being – particularly for young people in foster care who typically experience much uncertainty and instability in their home lives. Kate echoed the sentiments of other speakers about the need to imbed school stability rights in education law, as well as laws that govern child welfare agencies.