Act 66 Permits Students to Repeat Grade, Re-Enroll Due to Pandemic
July 7, 2021
Re: Special Legislative Update – Act 66 (formerly SB 664)
Dear Parents/Guardians of Highlands School District:
To make up for educational opportunities lost due to the Covid-19 pandemic, a new Pennsylvania law called Act 66 gives students and their parents/guardians special rights during the 2021-2022 school year:
- A special education student who turned 21 during or after the 2020-2021 school year and before the 2021-2022 school year, and who was enrolled in a school entity for the 2020-2021 school year, may:
- Re-enroll in the school entity for the 2021-2022 school year; and
- Participate in extended school year (EST) programming in 2021.
- A parent/guardian and the student must choose to re-enroll by July 15, 2021. An enrollment form is available on the Pennsylvania Department of Education website: https://www.education.pa.gov/Schools/safeschools/emergencyplanning/COVID-19/SchoolReopeningGuidance/ReopeningPreKto12/Pages/Student-Grade-Level-Retainment-(Act-66).aspx.
- Any child may repeat his or her grade level from the 2020-2021 school year during 2021-2022, even if the child could have advanced to the next grade level. A child who repeats a grade level is entitled to participate in academic and extracurricular activities, including interscholastic athletics, if eligible. A parent/guardian, or a child who is 18 or older, must elect by July 15, 2021, for the child to repeat a grade level.
- An enrollment form is available on the Pennsylvania Department of Education website: https://www.education.pa.gov/Schools/safeschools/emergencyplanning/COVID-19/SchoolReopeningGuidance/ReopeningPreKto12/Pages/Student-Grade-Level-Retainment-(Act-66).aspx.
Completed enrollment forms must be returned to the Highlands School District Administrative Center by July 15, 2021 to the attention of Dr. Cathleen Cubelic, Assistant Superintendent. Enrollment forms will not be accepted after this date due to scheduling purposes. The district encourages individuals considering either option to contact the individual school building principal to discuss these and other ways the district is addressing Covid-19 learning loss.
Sincerely,
Dr. Monique Mawhinney
Superintendent
