BSE Extends Application Process for Special Education Plan Requirements – Identification of Students with Specific Learning Disabilities Using RTI (April 4, 2021)

On April 2, 2021, Bureau of Special Education (BSE) Director Carole L. Clancy, Director sent a PennLink to LEAs titled Special Education Plan Requirements – Identification of Students with Specific Learning Disabilities using Response to Intervention Extension. The communiqué stated that, in response to the continued burden of the COVID-19 pandemic, BSE has extended the deadline and revised the application process for utilizing Response to Intervention (RTI) to identify students with a Specific Learning Disability (SLD). The deadline for school district and charter schools to apply for the 2021-2022 school year is July 1, 2021.

The revised process requires school districts and charter schools to submit the RTI for SLD Determination Fidelity Tool as the application. Applications are submitted to the regional Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) consultant. The RTI for SLD Determination Fidelity Tool will be used district-wide or for building levels (i.e., elementary, middle and/or high school). Additional information and the RTI for SLD Determination Fidelity Tool are available on the PaTTAN website.  

Each LEA must partner with their local Intermediate Unit (IU) and/or respective PaTTAN Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) Lead Consultant to conduct a comprehensive review using the fidelity tool, and for assistance with the process.

Completed applications must be submitted to PaTTAN MTSS regional lead consultants no later than July 1, 2021:

Upon review of all documentation, BSE will issue a letter indicating whether the application will be approved or disapproved, or if additional evidence is necessary. 

Questions related to this message may be directed to Shannon Eye, Special Education Adviser, at 814-684-2038 or [email protected].