An act signed into law by Gov. Tom Wolf on June 30 gives students who were enrolled in school during the 2020-21 school year the option to repeat their grade level.

Act 66 of 2021, the Student Grade Level Retainment Guidance, is intended to allow students 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.

Students at school districts, intermediate units, career and technical education centers, charter schools, cyber charter schools, regional charter schools, nonpublic schools, approved private schools and chartered schools for the deaf and blind are all eligible.

Act 66 also lets students with disabilities who were 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 school year and the beginning of the 2021-22 school year, attend school during the 2021-22 school year and receive services as outlined on their most recent Individualized Education Program.

Parents or guardians who are interested in re-enrolling their child in their 2020-21 grade level must submit an Act 66 of 2021 Student Grade Level Retainment Notification Form to their school district before July 15.