Executive Summary

ELC-PA’s mission is to ensure access to a quality public education for all children in Pennsylvania. With offices in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, our staff and board bring their lived experience to connect with communities underserved/underrecognized in education: as Black women whose school experiences were impacted by adultification bias and discrimination; as parents of youth with disabilities or identifying as transgender; and as professionals served by our Helpline and trainings.

ELC-PA is a leader in education reform, focusing on: equal access to quality public schools, advocating for fair education funding, and ending school pushout. Our advocacy and strategic communications have: increased basic education and special education funding, and added a first-of-its-kind equity supplement in the state’s 2021-22 and 2022-23 budgets; eliminated discriminatory policies in school codes; led to Act 1 becoming law, which remedies credit transfer and graduation barriers experienced by highly mobile youth; provided oversight of education in residential facilities; and contributed to other reforms that improve education access.

ELC-PA advocates for individuals through direct representation. For example, “Michaela,” a student experiencing homelessness, living shelter-to-shelter, and parent of two small children, was on her school’s graduation list. Michaela later learned she was at risk of not graduating due to changes in her school’s requirements. Michaela and her advocates were told repeatedly she did not qualify for Act 1. Finally, someone called our Helpline. After one email and a meeting with our attorney, Michaela was again eligible to graduate, meaning doors opening and better opportunities for Michaela and her family.

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