PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Pennsylvania Senate passed a bill that would let parents decide if a child should repeat a grade for the 2021-22 school year.
“Although normally these decisions are best made by the school district with consultation of the parents, I think this year’s extraordinary year needs this kind of response to ultimately allow parents to make the final decision,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman.
For much of the year, students were learning from home, so Corman said parents would have the best understanding of any educational or social loss.
Parents would have to make a decision by July 15 so schools would have time to prepare.
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The Pennsylvania Department of Education said parents can ask a school to consider having their child repeat a grade, though repeating a grade should be a last resort after discussion with the child’s teacher and other school staff.
Corman’s bill would also offer another year to special education students who would otherwise age out of their programs.
The bill passed the Senate with no objection and now heads to the state House.
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