On July 15, 2019, Patricia Hozella, Interim Director for the PA Bureau of Special Education disseminated a memo via Penn*Link titled 2019-2020 Gifted Compliance Monitoring Schedule. The memo reported that PDE has the responsibility to ensure that all LEAs providing services, whether directly or by contractual arrangements, administer gifted education services and programs that are in compliance with applicable state and federal laws and regulations. In order to fulfill this responsibility, PDE has established administrative procedures for monitoring program implementation, including evaluating the appropriateness, effectiveness, and accountability of gifted education services and programs.

PDE has also developed the schedule for compliance monitoring for the 2019-2020 school year, in which 10 PA school districts of varying sizes will be monitored. Additional monitoring, if deemed appropriate, may be designated as the school year progresses. The Gifted Cyclical Monitoring for Continuous Improvement includes a Gifted Facilitated Self-Assessment (GFSA) completed by the LEA and an on-site visit by a PDE review team including peer monitors. The process includes a review of the GFSA submitted by the LEA; input from administrators, teachers, and parents; and verification activities of the information reported in the GFSA. Verification activities include file reviews of student documents, studies of service delivery and analysis of policies, procedures and outcomes.

Monitoring trainings for gifted are available to districts who will be monitored. To schedule a training for your district, contact Shirley Moyer at 717.705.5186 or [email protected]. Training formats include phone conversations, email communication or face-to-face meetings. Each training will review the monitoring process, documents, and GFSA submission, and provide suggestions and checklists regarding preparation and implementation of the monitoring process. To schedule a training for your district, contact Shirley Moyer at 717.705.5186 or [email protected].

The Gifted Monitoring Manual is located on the PA Gifted web page: https://www.education.pa.gov/K-12/Gifted%20Education/Pages/default.aspx. Districts who will be monitored are strongly encouraged to review this document to prepare for the monitoring.

Questions regarding the 2019-2020 monitoring schedule listed below should go to Shirley Moyer, Special Education Adviser-Gifted, at 717.705.5186 or [email protected].

The Gifted Education Compliance Monitoring Schedule for School Districts and Charter Schools to be monitored in 2019-2020 is: Pittsburgh Public SD – September 25 & 26; Dubois Area SD – October 2 & 3; Penns Manor Area SD  – October 23 & 24; Shamokin Area SD – November 6 & 7; Central Dauphin SD – November 19 & 20; Wyomissing Area SD – December 4 & 5; Southern Lehigh SD – March 25 & 26; Bethlehem Area SD – March 18 & 19; Chester-Upland SD – March 31 & April 1; Jeannette City SD – April 7 & 8.

On July 10, 2019, Matthew Stem, Deputy Secretary for the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, released a memo to all LEAs via Penn*Link titled Links to AEDY Webinars on Application System and AEDY Referral System to ensure that chief school administrators and others responsible for the oversight of Alternative Education for Disruptive Youth (AEDY) programs are aware that the AEDY application system is open. Recent training webinars on the application system and referral forms can be found by clicking the following links:

• AEDY Application Update- https://youtu.be/BpzVRG-LA2c
• AEDY Application Addendum Process for Private Provider Programs- https://youtu.be/yihMEJtHHrs
• AEDY Application Renewal Process for Sending LEAs- https://youtu.be/IFuREqPiOkI 
• AEDY Student Referral Process for Private Provider Programs- https://youtu.be/El5mcHFabkQ
• AEDY Student Referral Process for Sending LEAs- https://youtu.be/1Ed3RJo8EiQ
• AEDY Application Renewal Process for LEA In-House Programs- https://youtu.be/IerLg7OEnkA
• AEDY Student Referral Process for LEA In-House Programs- https://youtu.be/WtLG2idYQOo

The training webinars cover the application processes for LEAs placing students, LEAs running an in-house program, IUs and AVTS’s that run a program, as well as the addendum for Private Providers. All LEAs placing students in an approved AEDY program, must complete a new application. All LEAs who want to run an in-house AEDY program, must complete a new application. All IUs and AVTS’s that run an AEDY program, must complete a new application. All LEA, IU, AVTS applications, once approved, will cover the 2019-20 AND 2020-21 school years. All Private Providers, regardless that they already have approved applications, must complete the new sections or addendum of the AEDY application. Private Provider applications will continue on their current three-year cycle.

Anyone who does AEDY referrals will need to go through the webinar training on referrals. AEDY Referrals will be required to be completed via the online system beginning with the 2019-20 school year. Superintendents are ultimately responsible for the placement of students into approved AEDY Programs, as well as ensuring compliance with all federal and state statutes and regulations.

It is important to note that the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) is joining forces with the PDE AEDY Team to provide training and technical assistance to LEAs and AEDY Programs on Special Education, English Learners, and Evidence-Based Behavior Modification Program requirements for AEDY, and are available to provide assistance to those completing AEDY Applications. The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), along with PaTTAN will continue to support the AEDY initiative through technical assistance, site visits, and professional development opportunities. PDE contacts are: Dana Klouser at [email protected] or John Esposito at [email protected]. The PaTTAN contact is Sergio Anaya at [email protected].

On July 12, 2019, Patricia Hozella, Interim Director of the PA Bureau of Special Education (BSE), released a Penn*Link memo titled Special Education Performance Grant – Competitive Integrated Employment Grant 2019-2020, which states that BSE is requesting applications from LEAs interested in establishing or expanding effective, competitive integrated employment programming for youth with disabilities. The ultimate goal is to provide youth with disabilities community-based paid work experiences during the 2019-2020 school year. LEAs, including school districts, intermediate units, charter schools, approved private schools and chartered schools for the deaf and the blind are eligible to apply. Grant monies will be awarded to applicants that:

• have the ability to partner with local business(es);
• collaborate with one or more of the following: Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR), County/Community-based Behavioral Health, Office of Intellectual Disabilities (OID), Centers for Independent Living and other disability-specific support organizations; and
• are establishing or have an established school-based career readiness programs.  

The funding available for each successful grant applicant is up to $30,000.00, available from the date of the award through August 15, 2020.  

The purpose of the Competitive Integrated Employment Grant is to:

1)    Improve competitive integrated employment outcomes for youth with disabilities;

2)    Provide work experiences, including but not limited to job shadowing, internship/practicum (paid/unpaid), cooperative education programs, apprenticeship, community-based work programs, and service learning (unpaid), with job coaching as appropriate, for youth with disabilities with preference for students at-risk of dropping out and/or youth who have difficulty obtaining employment, independently;

3)    Establish sites that can serve as models for competitive integrated employment for youth with disabilities; and

4)    Actively involve OVR, County/Community-based Behavioral Health, OID, Centers for Independent Living and other disability-specific support organizations during the development and implementation of the grant-related activities.

The application can be found on the Secondary Transition webpage of the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) website by accessing the following link: https://www.pattan.net/Graduation-Post-Secondary-Outcomes/Educational-Initiatives.

A single electronic submission of the application and letters of agreement is preferred.

• Please send all electronic submissions to [email protected].
• Hard copy submissions may be addressed to Paula Schmitt, Director – PaTTAN Pittsburgh, 3190 William Pitt Way, Pittsburgh, PA 15238.

Applications must be received by 3:00 p.m., Friday, August 30, 2019.

PaTTAN will be providing an informational webinar regarding the grant application process on Wednesday, July 31, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. Individuals interested in participating in this webinar can join by accessing the following link: https://pattanpgh.zoom.us/j/4128266839. This webinar will also be recorded and will be posted on the PaTTAN website.

For questions concerning the 2019-2020 Competitive Integrated Employment Grant, interested parties are asked to contact Jeffery Coover, PaTTAN Educational Consultant, at [email protected]. 

On July 12, 2019 Patricia Hozella, Interim Director of the PA Bureau of Special Education (BSE) released a memo titled Indicator 13: Effective Transition Practices. The memo states that, in response to the accountability requirements under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 2004 Part B State Performance Plans, the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) and Intermediate Unit transition consultants will be providing sustained professional development for targeted LEAs. The targeted professional development addresses the development of effective secondary transition programming for students with disabilities. This professional development series includes: coordinated student, family, and agency involvement; implementation of activities and services for students ages 14-21; and writing coordinated, measurable, annual Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals that will reasonably enable students ages 14 and above to meet their postsecondary outcomes. Additionally, the training will address how secondary transition planning affects graduation and dropout rates for students with disabilities. The requirements for each LEA assigned to the 2019-2020 Indicator 13 training are as follows:

• Develop an administrative team to support the targeted training and technical assistance process. The administrative team is required to attend a webinar on Wednesday, September 25, 2019 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Administrative team members will need to register in advance for this training through the PaTTAN website.
• Assemble a local implementation team responsible for attending all subsequent training sessions, which will include IEP pre-reviews with the PA Indicator 13 checklist, as well as working with Intermediate Unit and/or PaTTAN staff to develop and implement a local training plan for the 2019-2020 school year. The local implementation team should consist of the following personnel: special education directors, building principals, transition coordinators, special education teachers, speech language therapists, guidance counselors, school psychologists, and other LEA staff involved in secondary programming. The local implementation team should also include active engagement of career and technical education staff.
• LEA will name a lead contact person to complete an interview/survey regarding effective practices for secondary transition as facilitated by an Intermediate Unit and/or PaTTAN consultant.
• LEA staff will participate in IEP post-reviews following scheduled training.

For questions concerning the Indicator 13 training for 2019-2020, please contact: Hillary Mangis, Educational Consultant at PaTTAN-Pittsburgh, at 800.446.5607 ext. 6878 or [email protected].

The following LEAs are assigned: Brownsville Area SD, Canon-McMillan SD, Pittsburgh SD (targeted schools), Avonworth SD, Carlynton SD, Hampton Township SD, North Allegheny SD, North Gate SD, Propel CS – Braddock Hills, Propel CS – Montour, Sto-Rox SD, Karns City SD, Mohawk Area SD, Neshannock Township SD, Reynolds SD, Millcreek Township SD, Northwestern SD, Wattsburg Area SD, Clarion Area SD, Oil City Area SD, Redbank Valley SD, Valley Grove SD, Franklin Regional SD, Southmoreland SD, Ferndale Area SD, Forest Hills SD, North Star SD, Somerset Area SD, Austin Area SD, Bradford Area SD, Coudersport Area SD, Galeton Area SD, Bald Eagle Area SD, Centre Learning Community CS (5-8), Clearfield Area SD, State College Area SD, West Branch Area SD, Central Fulton SD, Forbes Road SD, Littlestown Area SD, Northeastern York SD, South Western SD, Tuscarora SD, Cocalico SD, Columbia Borough SD, Conestoga Valley SD, Elizabethtown Area SD, Exeter Township SD, Hamburg Area SD, Kutztown Area SD, Muhlenberg SD, Newport SD, Shippensburg Area SD, Susquehanna Township SD, Susquenita SD, Benton Area SD, Line Mountain SD, Millville Area SD, Northeast Bradford SD, Northern Tioga SD, Southern Tioga SD, Sullivan County SD, Dallas SD, Hanover Area SD, Dunmore SD, Lakeland SD, Montrose Area SD, Scranton SD, Easton Area SD, Nazareth Area SD, Wilson Area SD, Palmerton Area SD, Panther Valley SD, Whitehall-Coplay SD, Centennial SD, Quakertown Community SD, Agora Cyber CS, Jenkintown SD, Lower Merion SD, Pottstown SD, Souderton Area SD, Souderton CS Collaborative, Coatesville Area SD, Renaissance Academy CS, Radnor Township SD, Ridley SD, ACT Academy Cyber CS, Ad Prima CS, Christopher Columbus CS, Esperanza Cyber CS, SD of Philadelphia (targeted schools), Rochester Area SD, South Side Area SD, Homer-Center SD, and Shenandoah Valley SD.

On Friday, July, 5, 2019 Pat Hozella, Interim Director of the PA Bureau of Special Education, disseminated a Penn*Link memo to all LEAs titled Indicator 13: What Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) Need to Know for Compliance Monitoring for Continuous Improvement (CMCI).

The memo stated that in response to the accountability requirements under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) of 2004, Part B State Performance Plans, the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) will be providing a required training session for LEAs targeted for CMCI for the 2019-2020 school year.  The training will prepare LEAs for the requirements of compliance monitoring as it relates to secondary transition and to highlight effective practices in secondary transition. All targeted LEAs listed below, along with their transition support team, should participate in the upcoming training webinar. Team members may include any educational staff that are involved in the administration and supervision of special education programs (e.g., special education directors, building principals, transition coordinators, etc.).

The webinar will be held on Friday, September 13, 2019 from 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM. Registration is available on PaTTAN’s website at www.pattan.net. For questions concerning the Indicator 13:  Ensuring Success and Compliance training, please contact Hillary Mangis, Educational Consultant at the PaTTAN Pittsburgh Office, at 800.446.5607, ext. 6878 or [email protected].

The following LEAs are required to participate in this training:

 Avella Area SD, Bethlehem-Center SD, California Area SD, Urban Pathways K-5 College CS, Urban Pathways 6-12 CS, The New Academy CS, Manchester Academic CS, Urban Academy of Greater Pittsburgh CS, Allegheny Valley SD, Brentwood Borough SD, Chartiers Valley SD, Deer Lakes SD, McKeesport Area SD, Mt. Lebanon SD, Penn Hills SD, Pine-Richland SD, West Allegheny SD, West Mifflin Area SD, Propel CS-Northside, Penn Hills CS of Entrepreneurship, Young Scholars of Western Pennsylvania CS, Propel CS-East, Propel CS-McKeesport, Westinghouse Arts Academy CS, Farrell Area SD, Greenville Area SD, Grove City Area SD, Wilmington Area SD, Fairview SD, Penncrest SD, Erie Rise Leadership Academy CS, Clarion-Limestone Area SD, Forest Area SD, Keystone SD, Union SD, Burrell SD, Greensburg Salem SD, Monessen City SD, Penn-Trafford SD, Yough SD, Blacklick Valley SD, Conemaugh Township Area SD, Penn Cambria SD, Shade-Central City SD, Tussey Mountain SD, Windber Area SD, HOPE for Hyndman CS, Oswayo Valley SD, Curwensville Area SD, Glendale Area SD, Young Scholars of Central PA CS, Southern Fulton SD, Southern Huntingdon County SD, Stone Valley Community CS, Chambersburg Area SD, Dover Area SD, Red Lion Area SD, Waynesboro Area SD, York Suburban SD, Greencastle-Antrim SD, Upper Adams SD, York Academy Regional CS, Crispus Attucks CS, Annville-Cleona SD, Donegal SD, Elizabethtown Area SD, Hempfield SD, Manheim Township SD, Warwick SD, La Academia Partnership CS, Governor Mifflin SD, Hamburg Area SD, Oley Valley SD, I-LEAD CS, Halifax Area SD, Harrisburg City SD, Lower Dauphin SD, Middletown Area SD, Danville Area SD, Milton Area SD, Shikellamy SD, Susq-Cyber CS, Jersey Shore Area SD, Southern Tioga SD, Wellsboro Area SD, Lake-Lehman SD, Tunkhannock Area SD, Riverside SD, Wayne Highlands SD, Delaware Valley SD, East Stroudsburg Area SD, Northampton Area SD, Easton Arts Academy Elementary CS, Northwestern Lehigh SD, Allentown City SD, Arts Academy CS, Bristol Borough SD, Centennial SD, Central Bucks SD, Council Rock SD, Palisades SD, Pennsbury SD, Springfield Township SD, Coatesville Area SD, Great Valley SD, Oxford Area SD, Collegium CS, Penn-Delco SD, Ridley SD, Springfield SD, Philadelphia Learning Network 10, Philadelphia Learning Network 11, Philadelphia Learning Network 12, Philadelphia Learning Network 13, Philadelphia Learning Network Acceleration, Lindley Academy CS at Birney, Mastery CS-Clymer Elementary, Mastery CS-Gratz Campus, Olney CHS, Alliance For Progress CS, Inquiry CS, Eugenio Maria De Hostos CS, Freire CS, MAST Community CS, Mastery Prep Elementary CS, Math Civics & Sciences CS, Preparatory CS of Mathematics Science Tech & Careers, Universal Audenried CS, Universal Institute CS, Universal Vare CS, Young Scholars CS, Aliquippa SD, Beaver Area SD, Riverside Beaver County SD, Western Beaver County SD, Apollo-Ridge SD, Purchase Line SD, United SD, Blue Mountain SD, Pottsville Area SD, Saint Clair Area SD, Williams Valley SD, Gillingham CS.