Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 50, December 14, 2024
Section 12.1 - Free education and attendance(a) All persons residing in this Commonwealth between the ages of 6 and 21 years are entitled to a free and full education in the Commonwealth's public schools.(b) Parents or guardians of all children between the ages of 6 and 18 are required by the compulsory attendance law to ensure that their children attend an approved educational institution, unless legally excused. Students who have not graduated may not be asked to leave school merely because they have reached 18 years of age if they are fulfilling their responsibilities as students. A student may not be excluded from the public schools or from extracurricular activities because: (1) The student is married.(2) The student is pregnant.(3) The student has a disability as identified by Chapter 15 (relating to protected handicapped students).(4) The student is an eligible student identified under Chapter 14 (relating to special education services and programs).The provisions of this § 12.1 amended February 17, 1984, effective 2/18/1984, 14 Pa.B. 520; amended December 2, 2005, effective 12/3/2005, 35 Pa.B. 6510, 6658; amended November 4, 2022, effective 11/5/2022, 52 Pa.B. 6844.The provisions of this § 12.1 amended under sections 2603-B and 2604-B(b)(2)(v) of the Public School Code of 1949 (24 P.S. §§ 26-2603-B and 26-2604-B(b)(2)(v)).
This section cited in 22 Pa. Code § 12.6 (relating to exclusions from school).