On April 7, 2023, BSE Director Carole L. Clancy released a PennLink message to all LEAs titled Special Education Plan Requirements – Identification of Students with Specific Learning Disabilities using Response to Intervention. According to the message,

the PA Bureau of Special Education (BSE) has revised the application process for utilizing Response to Intervention (RTI) to identify students with a Specific Learning Disability (SLD). Initial applications for school districts and charter schools may be submitted on an on-going basis. There is no deadline for submission.

The revised process requires school districts and charter schools to submit the RTI for SLD Determination Fidelity Tool as the application to PDE. The RTI for SLD Determination Fidelity Tool will be used district-wide or for building levels (e.g., elementary, middle, and/or high school). Additional information and the RTI for SLD Determination Fidelity Tool are available on the PaTTAN website.

Each local education agency (LEA) must partner with their local intermediate unit and/or respective PaTTAN Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) lead consultant to conduct a comprehensive review using the fidelity tool and to receive assistance with the process.

Please contact PaTTAN MTSS designees below for support:

Dr. Jennifer Collins, State Lead ([email protected]t) – Harrisburg
Karen Brady ([email protected]) – Harrisburg
Bob Shields ([email protected]) – Pittsburgh
Sherry Hartman ([email protected]) – East

Upon review of all documentation, the Bureau of Special Education will issue a letter indicating the application is approved, disapproved, or requires revision.

For LEAs currently approved to implement RTI for SLD Determination, please continue to use the RTI for SLD Determination Fidelity Tool for internal assessment and improvement.

Additionally, LEAs are required to outline use of RTI for SLD Determination as part of the required submission for the district comprehensive special education plan and charter school annual report assurances within the Future Ready Comprehensive Planning Portal.

Questions related to this message may be directed to Shannon Eye, Special Education Adviser, at 717-829-5113 or [email protected].