On April 24, 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released its final ruleĀ updating nutrition standards for school mealsĀ that requires gradual limits on added sugars and slight reductions for sodium for breakfasts and lunches to be in place by the fall of 2027.
Berks County Intermediate Unit (BCIU) continues to be a leader in producing a comprehensive set of documents detailing PA state mandates pertaining to education. BCIU Early Childhood and Student Services Director Dr. Michelle Reichard-Huff has again provided PAPSA and its members with excellent updated documents regarding these mandates. This latest version was updated March 2024. Many thanks to Dr. Reichard-Huff and her BCIU team!!
The creation of the State Mandates Document stems from a concerted effort to enhance communication and ensure clarity regarding the numerous regulations and requirements outlined in the Pennsylvania School Code that govern our education system as well as federal regulations impacting school entities. Acknowledging the intricate and evolving nature of educational policies, this document serves as a consolidated resource, offering school leaders a comprehensive overview of their obligations mandated by the state and by federal regulations.
One of the primary objectives behind developing this document is to equip school leaders with the knowledge and understanding necessary to effectively navigate the regulatory landscape. By clearly outlining the legal requirements and expectations placed upon schools, it serves as a valuable reference point for ensuring adherence to state and federal mandates and regulations.
Furthermore, the State Mandates Checklist provides school leaders with a succinct summary of training/drills, reporting, policies/plans, and personnel requirements. This checklist serves as a convenient reference for school code and education policy obligations, detailing how to accomplish each requirement, the intended audience, frequency, and due dates to ensure adherence at all levels of the education system.
The BCIU provides these documents to the school districts and career and technology centers served within Berks County at no cost. Additionally, Intermediate Units across the Commonwealth are provided an opportunity to subscribe to this service which are customized for their use within their region.
Should you have any questions or require additional information regarding the State Mandates Documents, please do not hesitate to contact me or Mrs. Toni Cramp, BCIU Executive Office Program Administrator, at 610-898-8956.
The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) has announced the submission deadline for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), with relation to the Pennsylvania State Grant Program, has been extended to June 1. The launch of the FAFSA application for the upcoming academic year was delayed almost three months as the FAFSA underwent changes as a result of the FAFSA Simplification Act, which was intended to streamline the financial aid application process. The U.S. Department of Education rolled out the new FAFSA on Dec. 31 for the 2024-25 academic year, but it has since encountered a number of issues, delays and errors in processing student applications. The PA State Grant Program uses the FAFSA form as its primary application point to determine student eligibility for a PA State Grant award. Historically, May 1 was used as the deadline for students to complete their FAFSA for PA State Grant purposes. More information is available atĀ pheaa.org.
The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) has announced the submission deadline for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), with relation to the Pennsylvania State Grant Program, has been extended to June 1.
The launch of the FAFSA application for the upcoming academic year was delayed almost three months as the FAFSA underwent changes as a result of the FAFSA Simplification Act, which was intended to streamline the financial aid application process. The U.S. Department of Education rolled out the new FAFSA on Dec. 31 for the 2024-25 academic year, but it has since encountered a number of issues, delays and errors in processing student applications.
The PA State Grant Program uses the FAFSA form as its primary application point to determine student eligibility for a PA State Grant award. Historically, May 1 was used as the deadline for students to complete their FAFSA for PA State Grant purposes.
On April 22, 2024, BSE Director Carole L. Clancy, sent a memo to all LEAs titled 2023-24 School Year Restraint Information System Collection Tracking and Training Third and Fourth Quarter Reporting Window. The memo states that the Restraint Information System Collection (RISC) is open for data entry for the third and fourth quarter of the 2023-24 school year (restraints occurring between January 1 ā July 14, 2024). The RISC program has been enhanced and gives local educational agencies (LEAs) greater opportunity to provide both more detail about restraints and to analyze trends to reduce the use of physical restraints.
LEAs are required to report RISC data quarterly during the 2023-24 school year. This includes reporting zero restraints during a quarter when restraints did not occur. Additionally, LEAs still are required to comply with 22 Pa. Code Ā§ 14.133(f) or 22 Pa. Code Ā§ 711.46(f) Positive Behavior Support related to training of personnel in specific procedures, methods, and techniques. However, 22 Pa. Code Ā§ 14.133(f) and 22 Pa. Code Ā§ 711.46(f) Positive Behavior Support does not require LEAs to acquire specific certification in the use of restraints and leaves this up to the LEAs and their specific training model. The training of personnel should provide varied intervention and strategies needed to address problem behaviors. The types of intervention chosen for a specific student or eligible young child shall be the least intrusive necessary. The use of restraints is considered a measure of last resort, only to be used after other less restrictive measures, including de-escalation techniques.
The Bureau of Special Education (BSE) continues to require LEAs to report the restraints that occurred in each quarter. This reporting process permits LEAs to report restraints in a timely manner which, in turn, allows LEAs to monitor patterns of episodic behaviors and address them accordingly.
The quarterly windows of reporting for the 2023-24 school year are as follows:
Quarter
Begin Date
End Date
Last Day to Report
Zero Window Opens
Zero Window Closes
1
07/01/2023
09/30/2023
10/19/2023
10/01/2023
10/18/2023
2
10/01/2023
12/31/2023
01/15/2024
01/01/2024
01/15/2024
3
01/01/2024
03/31/2024
04/14/2024
04/01/2024
04/14/2024
4
04/01/2024
06/30/2024
07/14/2024
07/01/2024
07/14/2024
The RISC reporting design provides an āEnd Dateā for LEAs to comply with their end of quarterly reporting. In addition, there is a two-week window date labeled āLast Day to Reportā to allow LEAs to gather and report on those students that attend an out-of-district facility where they were placed in a restraint during that quarter. This two-week period is also a designated time for LEAs that had no restraints during the quarter to report zero in RISC. BSE will continue to send out reminder PENN*LINKS about this quarterly reporting requirement.
BSE will monitor the restraint information reported by LEAs. RISC requires each LEA to report the event that occurred prior to the incident, the incident, the unsafe behavior, and the de-escalation techniques used.
Restraints occurring during Extended School Year sessions should be reported within three weeks of the start of the school year.
In reviewing restraints submitted in RISC of school-age IEP students, the Special Education Advisers of BSE will continue to focus on LEA monitoring responsibilities, as well as:
Training of staff in de-escalation techniques;
Excessive time of restraint;
Excessive use of parent/guardian waivers;
Mechanical restraints;
Injuries;
Number of restraints;
Ten-day window (school days) to convene an IEP meeting after a restraint occurs; and
Handcuffing of students or students charged with a Safe Schools offense.
A new RISC reporting webinar has been recently posted on the RISC website: apps.leaderservices.com/_risc/index.aspx. This RISC reporting webinar link is located below the login box of the Leader Services RISC sign-in page. This webinar explains the reporting and investigation process and how to use the RISC system. The webinar also shares how to update your LEA’s contact information. All parties involved with RISC are highly encouraged to view this webinar to learn how to report restraints, how to use the system, and to understand the regulatory responsibility of LEAs.
Additionally, BSE’s āGuidelines for De-escalation and the Use of and Reporting of Restraints in Educational Programsā is available for review on the RISC website.
Questions regarding RISC should be directed the RISC Resource Account at [email protected].