Snyder County DA Argues Truancy Case in PA Supreme Court (Middleburg, PA) — District Attorney Mike Piecuch (pronounced “pea-YET-sue”) yesterday argued the truancy case of Commonwealth v. Jennifer Kerstetter in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. The case presents the Supreme Court with an issue of first impression: does the compulsory attendance law apply to kindergartners. A decision by the Supreme Court is expected to take several months before being announced. “The plain language of the Public School Code requires parents to make sure their children are attending school once they are enrolled or reach age 8, whichever comes first,” said DA Piecuch. “There is no truancy exemption for students enrolled in kindergarten.” Kerstetter had been cited in late 2011 for violating the compulsory school attendance law after several unexcused absences by her children, who had been enrolled as kindergartners in the Midd-West School District. She took her case to Snyder County court in June 2012 and argued that because school districts are not required to provide kindergarten, then kindergartners should be exempt from compulsory school attendance. President Judge Michael H. Sholley rejected Kerstetter’s argument and denied her motion to dismiss the case. Kerstetter appealed to the Commonwealth Court and lost in February 2013. Kerstetter then appealed to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. The Supreme Court heard oral arguments on the case yesterday with DA Piecuch and Kerstetter’s attorney, Patrick Johnson, Esq., of Lock Haven. DA Piecuch added, “Studies have proven that early childhood education is crucial to improving academic outcomes and reducing criminal behaviors later in life. We need to encourage participation in quality early childhood education programs such as kindergarten. Modern kindergartens are integral parts of our education system and do not have rolling admissions. If it turns out a child is simply not ready for kindergarten, the solution is to disenroll the child, not to just stop sending the child.”
Posted on: Wed, 20 Nov 2013 22:01:39 +0000