Allison S. Petersen represents public school districts and other academic institutions in complex litigation, appellate matters, and high-stakes administrative proceedings, while also serving as a school solicitor and legal counsel advising public and private schools on the wide-range of legal matters they face.

Ms. Petersen has extensive experience advocating for schools in federal and state trial and appellate courts as well as before administrative agencies. She is particularly well known for her work around the Pennsylvania Charter School Law, regularly appearing on charter school matters before the State Charter School Appeal Board, the Pennsylvania appellate courts, and the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

A recognized thought leader in education law, she frequently lectures for state and local organizations on charter school law, education law issues, and municipal liability. Ms. Petersen’s professional excellence has been consistently recognized by her peers. She was named a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer for Schools & Education in 2016 and 2015. Ms. Petersen’s commitment to education extends beyond her legal practice, serving as the Board President and a director of the Perkiomen Valley School District Foundation since 2016.

Representative Matters

• Esperanza Academy Charter School v. School Dist. of Phila. (Dep’t of Educ.), 329 A.3d 23 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2024) – Successfully defended the School District’s calculation of its charter school funding rates in a case of statewide significance and first impression before the Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Education and then before the Commonwealth Court sitting en banc.

• Summit Charter School v. Pocono Mountain School Dist. (Charter School Appeal Board), 316 A.3d 196 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2024) – Achieved an affirmance of the school board’s decision to deny a new charter school application from both the Charter School Appeal Board and the Commonwealth Court.

• Joan Myers Brown Academy: A String Theory Charter School v. School Dist. of Phila., 2024 Pa. Commw. Unpub. LEXIS 361 (Pa. Cmwlth., July 11, 2024) – Achieved an affirmance of the school board’s decision to deny a new charter school application from both the Charter School Appeal Board and the Commonwealth Court.

• Aspira Inc. of Pennsylvania v. School Dist. of Phila., E.D. Pa., 19-CV-04415 – Achieved judgment in favor of the School District following 6-day non-jury trial in a due process and breach of contract action before Chief Judge Sanchez, held virtually in April-May 2021.

• Eastern University Academy Charter School v. School Dist. of Phila., 265 A.3d 300 (Pa. 2021) – Successfully defended a case of first impression in which the Supreme Court held there is no deadline by which charter school nonrenewal proceedings must be commenced or concluded.

• Discovery Charter School v. School Dist. of Phila., 166 A.3d 304 (Pa. 2017) – Successfully defended a case of first impression in which the Supreme Court held that the CSL does not contain a procedure for amending the material terms of a charter, CAB does not have jurisdiction over an appeal from a denied amendment, and charter schools may not unilaterally change terms in renewal charters.

• New Hope Academy Charter School v. School Dist. of York, 89 A.3 731 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2014) – Achieved important holding about the expectations for charter school academic performance in light of the legislative intent of the CSL.

Personal Interests

When not practicing law, Ms. Petersen enjoys spending time with her family and friends, traveling, and watching her children play sports.