House passes McNeill bill to protect students involved in school district residency disputes

Rep. Jeanne McNeill    November 13, 2023

HARRISBURG, Nov. 13 – State Rep. Jeanne McNeill’s legislation that would help students involved in school district residency disputes passed the House today.

House Bill 663 would stipulate that, in the event of a residency dispute between school districts, a school district would not be permitted to remove a child from school until the dispute has been fully resolved and it has been determined which school district should correctly enroll the child.

“When residency disputes between school districts occur across Pennsylvania, it can take weeks or more for such disputes to be fully resolved,” said McNeill. “However, current law forces these students involved to be removed from the school by the school district they’d been attending until the dispute is resolved.

“One such occurrence happened in my community, as it involved a student with a disability who, for more than 30 days, was without the supportive educational instruction and care they needed,” McNeill said. “This is completely unacceptable. Additionally, if it is happening in my community, then it is happening elsewhere. Which is why I am proud that this legislation is moving forward in the hopes that it becomes law.”

The legislation has been sent to the Senate for consideration.

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