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Community Justice Project |
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Improving the Lives of Low Income Pennsylvanians |
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Harrisburg Office 118 Locust St. Harrisburg, PA 17101 (717) 236-9486 (phone) (717) 233-4088 (fax) 1-800-322-7572 (toll free)
Pittsburgh Office Suite 1705 429 Forbes Ave Pittsburgh, PA 15219 (412) 434-6002 (phone) (412) 434-5706 (fax) 1-866-482-3076 (toll free)
Hispanic Outreach Offices (Ayuda en Español)
Pittsburgh Suite 1705 429 Forbes Ave Pittsburgh, PA 15219 (412) 434-6176 (office) (412) 715-1750 (cell) (412) 434-5706 (fax)
Reading c/o Centro Hispano 501 Washington St. Reading, PA 19601 (610) 741-7995 (phone) (610) 372-2619 (fax)
Hazleton 2 East Broad Street Room 204 Hazleton, PA 18201 (570) 582-5816 (phone) (570) 459-5815 (fax)
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Education |
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In this state many children don't receive the education they deserve. We help families get good public school educations for their children by:
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· Enforcing educational opportunities for children with disabilities · Challenging public school policies which discriminate against low income and minority children. · Ensuring educational access for those with limited English proficiency. |
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Litigation |
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CG, et al v. Pennsylvania Department of Education, et al.
This Middle District of Pennsylvania, 2006 class action alleges that the statutory formula used to distribute state special education dollars discriminates against students in poor school districts where there are many disabled students. Plaintiffs also allege that the special education formula fails to provide funds necessary to remove language barriers for limited English proficiency students. 2-25-2008: Defendants' Motion to Dismiss Denied.
Doe v Southeastern Greene School District
This federal court, Western District of PA case was brought under Title IX on behalf of a student who was sexually harassed before and after his statements to other students that he was gay. The court held that the sexual touching and verbal harassment of this boy by other boys was subject to Title IX, even though it may have been related to the student’s sexual orientation. 2006 U.S.Dist.LEXIS 12790.
Roxanne S on behalf of Deandrey F v. Highlands School District
Plaintiffs in this federal court, Western District of PA case alleged that the school district had a practice of filing criminal complaints against students in lieu of fulfilling its duties under the IDEA, Section 504, and the ADA and that the student had been harmed by this criminalization of behavior related to his disability. The district court recently denied a motion to dismiss this claim.
L.T. on behalf of S.T.
This federal court, Middle District PA complaint alleged that the Pennsylvania Department of Education Bureau of Special Education Division of Compliance has a policy and practice of failing to provide a timely and meaningful complaint procedure, and remediation and enforcement process as required by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and its implementing regulations. The district court preliminarily ruled that the school district and intermediate unit which had provided services to the minor plaintiff were not indispensable parties, and the case was settled thereafter. |