On August 1, 2018 Ann Hinkson-Herrmann, Director of the PA Bureau of Special Education sent notice to all LEAs of the change in terminology replacing the term mental retardation with intellectual disability located in 22 PA Code Chapter 14 titled Special Education Services and Programs. To align the Commonwealth’s special education regulations in Chapter 14 to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act regulatory revisions resulting from Rosa’s Law, the State Board of Education through final-omitted rulemaking amended 22 PA Code §§ 14.123, 14.124, 14.125, 14.132, 14.143 and 14.162, by replacing the term mental retardation with the term intellectual disability.  The change in terminology does not affect the meaning or the eligibility determination associated with the term.

The final-omitted rulemaking affects public, private, parochial, or nonpublic schools, including vocational schools, intermediate units, and special education and home education programs and their employees.  The final-omitted rulemaking also affects citizens of the Commonwealth with school-aged children and their children.

In addition to the Chapter 14 terminology changes, documents issued from the Bureau of Special Education (BSE) located on the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) website will be amended.  Local educational agencies are advised to update the forms they currently use to reflect those on the PaTTAN website. BSE intends to have the forms ready for use with the start of the 2018-19 school year.