On June 30, Governor Tom Wolf signed Act 66 of 2021 (Act 66) into law. Act 66 permits students who were enrolled during the 2020-21 school year to repeat their grade level to make up for any lost educational opportunities due to the COVID-19 pandemic, even if the student met the requirements to be promoted to the next grade level. Based on this Act, parents/guardians, and students, at or over the age of 18, have until July 15, 2021, to elect to have their child or themselves repeat a grade level for the 2021-22 school year.
Additionally, Act 66 permits a student with a disability who was enrolled during the 2020-21 school year and turned age 21 during the 2020-21 school year, or between the end of the 2020-21 and the beginning of the 2021-22 school year, to attend a school entity during the 2021-22 school year and receive services as outlined on their most recent Individualized Education Program (IEP) with all the protections under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
Parents/guardians or students who wish to take advantage of Act 66 must complete, sign, and submit the Act 66 of 2021 Student Grade Level Retainment Notification Form to the student’s district and/or school on or before July 15, 2021. Click here for the form.
Please note, students 18 or older who plan to repeat a grade level during the 2021-22 school year must complete and submit their own form. For a student with a disability who turned 21 during the time periods listed above, both the parent/guardian and the student must complete the form. Forms are to be submitted to the district and/or school in which the student will attend in the 2021-22 school year - they may not be submitted to PDE.
Guidance and answers to FAQs on Act 66 of 2021 is now available on PDE’s website.