Every year thousands of Pennsylvania children and youth are placed in residential settings such as group homes and residential treatment facilities (RTFs), and in day mental health treatment programs called “partial hospitalization programs.” In the year 2007:
- almost 4,400 children were placed 51 RTFs in the Commonwealth – more than any other state!
Little is known about the quality or quantity of the education these children and youth receive in RTFs and partial hospitalization programs, however the Education Law Center has learned from families and caseworkers of these children that they:
- experience significant gaps in their schooling,
- receive fewer hours of education than public school students, and
- are not identified or fail to receive needed special education.
Due to these and other barriers, children educated in these settings are at great risk of falling behind and dropping out.
 You can help the Education Law center find out more about the quality of education provided to children and youth educated in residential facilities by taking a survey on your educational experiences while placed in a residential facility. ELC will use your responses to:
- help identify the problems experienced by children and youth educated in residential settings,
- identify solutions to those problems, and
- develop and advocate for specific state policy and practice changes.
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