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:

• Dr. Jennifer Collins, State Lead ([email protected]) – Harrisburg
• Karen Brady ([email protected]) – Harrisburg
• Laura Lamont ([email protected]) – Pittsburgh
• Donna Halpin ([email protected]) – East

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].

The Pennsylvania departments of Health (PDH) and Education (PDE) announced updated recommendations for K-12 schools on social distancing in classrooms and how to handle COVID-19 cases in school buildings. In addition, PDH also announced updated guidance on summer camps, which is mostly unchanged from what was issued last July. Updated answers to FAQs can be found here. The recommendations and guidance take effect April 5, 2021.

Updated recommendations on physical distancing

Aligning with new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations that reflect the latest research, Pennsylvania students may now be at least three (3) feet apart in classrooms. The previous requirement was six (6) feet. Universal masking remains a requirement.

“The department continues its efforts to work with schools to provide guidance when a case occurs,” COVID-19 Response Director Wendy Braund said. “This includes actions related to cleaning and disinfecting, isolation and quarantine recommendations, and actions to recommend the closure of schools or school buildings. We continue to encourage districts to use the to use the percent positivity in counties, as well as the number of cases in a school in the decision making process as we all work to keep Pennsylvania children safe and in school.”

K-12 school social/physical distancing measures:

• In elementary school, students should be at least three (3) feet apart.
• In middle and high schools, students should be at least three (3) feet apart in counties with low and moderate community transmission. In substantial counties, middle and high school students should be six (6) feet apart, if cohorting is not possible.
• Maintain six (6) feet of distance in the following settings:
  • Between adults in the school building (teachers and staff), and between adults and students.
  • When masks can’t be worn, such as when eating.
  • During activities when increased exhalation occurs, such as singing, shouting, band, or sports and exercise. Move these activities outdoors or to large, well-ventilated spaces.
  • In common areas such as school lobbies and auditoriums.

Click to view K-12 school social/physical distancing measures.

Updated recommendations on handling COVID-19 cases in schools

The departments also updated recommendations on how school entities should handle confirmed cases of COVID-19 in school buildings. The recommendations consider the level of community transmission in each county, the number of cases among students and staff in each school building during the past 14 days and the size of the school building.

For example, the recommendation for closures to in-person learning in some instances is reduced to one to two (1-2) days from three to seven (3-7) days and five (5) days from 14 days. The closures allow for cleaning and for public health staff to direct close contacts to quarantine. 

Click to view the chart with the updated recommendations on PDE’s website.

“Our updated recommendations bring us a step closer to a full return to in-person teaching and learning across Pennsylvania,” said Acting Secretary of Education Noe Ortega. “While recommendations on physical distancing, closures, and quarantines may have changed, the importance to adhering to all health and safety guidelines has not – it is imperative that we remain committed to protecting our students, teachers, and staff.”

While many schools are open for in-person learning, vaccinations are an important part of the Wolf Administration’s effort to get more students and teachers back in classrooms. The administration is ahead of schedule and nearly finished with a special initiative to provide teachers and school staff with an opportunity to get the voluntary, single-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. The state partnered with 28 intermediate units to operate vaccine clinics, with the Pennsylvania National Guard and AMI Expeditionary Healthcare administering the vaccine.

Governor Wolf also announced yesterday that Pennsylvania is expected to receive nearly $5 billion in federal COVID-19 relief funds to help K-12 schools returns students to classroom learning and equitably expand opportunity for students who need it most.

To view the press release, click here.

On Friday, March 26, 2021, the PA COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force announced the voluntary single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine to Pre-K to 12 educators and school staff, which is ahead of schedule and nearly complete. As of March 26th, 104,331 teachers, school staff, and contractors from across the state have received the J&J vaccine through this special initiative. The departments of Education (PDE) and Health (PDE) and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) are collaborating with Intermediate Units (IUs), the Pennsylvania National Guard, and AMI Expeditionary Healthcare to coordinate and operate vaccine clinics for Pre-K to 12 education personnel and support staff. Thirteen regional IU clinics will operate through Tuesday, March 30th.

Philadelphia operates its own vaccine distribution. The special initiative to vaccinate teachers and school staff is separate from Pennsylvania’s ongoing Phase 1A vaccine rollout, which continues at an accelerated pace.

Click here for more information and answers to questions about the COVID-19 Vaccine for PA teachers, childcare workers, and school staff on PDE’s website.