PO Box 3004 - Meriden, Connecticut 06451

Website: www.ctparentsunion.org Tel: 203.443.3203

October 7, 2014

Office of Senator Daylin Leach
601 S. Henderson Road
Suite 208
King of Prussia, PA 19406

RE: SUPPORT for Education House Bill 2341

Dear Senator Leach,

On behalf of the Connecticut Parents Union, I am writing in strong support of Educational House Bill 2341,
which would stop the felony arrest of Pennsylvania parents striving to ensure their children access to a
safe and quality education.

It goes without saying that parents, regardless of family income or zip-code, want their children to be safe
and accessing high quality schools. Yet, there may come a time where life challenges such as separation,
divorce, new job, domestic violence, homelessness etc take center stage in a familys life. As a result,
these challenges may pose a conflict within school residency policies.

Like many other states, the current Pennsylvania school residency policy does not take into consideration
what is best for children, as it relates to education, but instead creates felons out of many law-abiding
parents striving to ensure their children access safe and quality schools despite life issues. This heavy
handed approach forces taxpayers to pay into a more costly system- the prisons versus utilizing more cost
effective administrative state policies to address educational issues.
Connecticut is a former state that felony arrested parents for school residency violations. However, in
2013, parents across the state applauded the efforts of Governor Dannel P. Malloy and Deputy Majority
Whip Bruce Morris who led legislative efforts to pass House Bill 6677, which stops the felony arrest of
parents who enroll their children in schools outside of their zip-code. This was clearly a bipartisan effort
with virtually unanimous approval. (http://www.cga.ct.gov/2013/act/pa/pdf/2013PA-00211-R00HB-
06677-PA.pdf)
Once again, we thank you for your commitment to the education and overall well being of children and
families regardless of race, income level, or zip-code.

Sincerely,

Gwen Samuel
President, CT Parents Union