In response to the accountability requirements under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 2004 (IDEA) Part B State Performance Plans, the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) and intermediate unit transition consultants will provide sustained professional development for targeted local educational agencies (LEAs). This targeted professional development will assist with creating compliant and effective individualized secondary transition programming for students with disabilities.

The requirements for each LEA assigned to the 2025-2026 Preparing for Cyclical Monitoring: A Focus on Secondary Transition training are as follows:

• Develop an administrative team to support the targeted training and technical assistance process. The administrative team is required to attend the webinar, What LEAs Need to Know About The Secondary Transition Cyclical Monitoring Schoology Course, on September 10, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Administrative team members need to register in advance for this training on the PaTTAN Training Calendar.
• Assign 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. The lead contact will work with IU Transition TaC/PaTTAN consultant to develop and implement a local training plan for the 2025-2026 school year.
• Identify targeted staff (i.e. special education directors, building principals, transition coordinators, special education teachers, speech/language therapists, guidance counselors, school psychologists, career tech ed staff, and other LEA staff involved in secondary programming) to participate in IEP pre-reviews using the PA Indicator 13 checklist, complete IEP post-reviews, participate in coaching activities as warranted with IU Transition TaC, and complete an online Schoology course.

Ensure all assigned staff complete the required online Schoology course, Preparing for Cyclical Monitoring: A Focus on Secondary Transition Planning and IEP Development, between September 12, 2025, and February 27, 2026.

PLEASE NOTE: All staff must individually register for the Schoology course using the registration key: IND13-2025 to receive 6 Act 48 hours. Registration for the Schoology course can be found on the PaTTAN Training Calendar.

For questions concerning Preparing for Cyclical Monitoring: A Focus on Secondary Transition training for 2025-2026, contact PaTTAN Educational Consultants, Darla Bryant dbryant@pattan.net or Tim Knight tknight@pattan.net.

IU – Local Education Agency – Region
3 Bethel Park School District West
3 Carlynton School District West
3 Clairton City School District West
3 Propel Charter School – Pitcairn West
3 North Allegheny School District West
3 Northgate School District West
3 Spectrum Charter School West
3 Steel Valley School District West
3 Sto-Rox School District West
4 Karns City Area School District West
4 Mohawk Area School District West
4 Neshannock Township School District West
4 Union Area School District West
5 Crawford Central School District West
5 Iroquois School District West
5 Millcreek Township School District West
5 Wattsburg Area School District West
6 Clarion Area School District West
6 Oil City Area School District West
6 Valley Grove School District West
7 Derry Area School District West
7 Greater Latrobe School District West
7 Ligonier Valley School District West
7 New Kensington-Arnold School District West
7 Southmoreland School District West
8 Conemaugh Valley School District Central
8 Ferndale Area School District Central
8 Forest Hills School District Central
8 Meyersdale Area School District Central
8 Portage Area School District Central
8 Turkeyfoot Valley Area School District Central
8 Tyrone Area School District Central
9 Austin Area School District Central
9 Cameron County School District Central
9 Northern Potter School District Central
10 Clearfield Area School District Central
10 State College Area School District Central
10 Sugar Valley Rural Charter School Central
10 West Branch Area School District Central
11 Huntingdon Area School District Central
12 Bermudian Springs School District Central
12 Eastern York School District Central
12 Lincoln Charter School Central
12 Southern York County School District Central
12 Tuscarora School District Central
13 Cocalico School District Central
13 Columbia Borough School District Central
13 Conestoga Valley School District Central
13 Ephrata Area School District Central
13 Lampeter-Strasburg School District Central
13 Manheim Central School District Central
14 Conrad Weiser Area School District Central
14 Exeter Township School District Central
14 Kutztown Area School District Central
14 Muhlenberg School District Central
14 Wilson School District Central
15 Big Spring School District Central
15 Derry Township School District Central
15 Greenwood School District Central
15 Northern York County School District Central
15 West Perry School District Central
16 Central Columbia School District Central
16 Lewisburg Area School District Central
16 Mifflinburg Area School District Central
16 Selinsgrove Area School District Central
16 Shamokin Area School District Central
17 Loyalsock Township School District Central
17 Northern Tioga School District Central
17 Towanda Area School District Central
19 Blue Ridge School District East
19 Carbondale Area School District East
19 Elk Lake School District East
19 Howard Gardner Multiple Intelligence CS East
19 Montrose Area School District East
19 Wallenpaupack Area School District East
19 Scranton City School District East
20 Easton Area School District East
20 Pen Argyl Area School District East
20 Pocono Mountain School District East
21 Circle of Seasons Charter School East
21 Jim Thorpe Area School District East
21 Roberto Clemente Charter School East
22 Bristol Township School District East
22 Neshaminy School District East
23 Souderton Charter School Collaborative East
23 Hatboro-Horsham School District East
23 Jenkintown School District East
23 Lower Merion School District East
23 Norristown Area School District East
24 Renaissance Academy Charter School East
24 Downingtown Area School District East
24 Octorara Area School District East
25 Chester Charter Scholars Academy (CCSA) East
25 Chester-Upland School District East
25 Radnor Township School District East
25 Upper Darby School District East
25 William Penn School District East
26- LN 3 Alain Locke CS & SDP
26- LN 3 Edward Heston CS & SDP
26- LN 3 Guion S. Bluford CS & SDP
26- LN 3 James Rhoads CS & SDP
26- LN 3 Lewis C. Cassidy Academics Plus CS & SDP
26- LN 3 Martha Washington CS & SDP
26- LN 3 Middle Years Alternative CS & SDP
26- LN 3 Morton McMichael CS & SDP
26- LN 3 Overbook Educational Center CS & SDP
26- LN 3 Overbrook Elementary CS & SDP
26- LN 3 Robert E. Lamberton CS & SDP
26- LN 3 Rudolph Blankenburg CS & SDP
26- LN 3 Samuel Grompers CS & SDP
26- LN 3 Science Leadership Academy Middle School CS & SDP
26- LN 7 Andrew J. Morrison CS & SDP
26- LN 7 Feltonville School of Arts and Science CS & SDP
26- LN 7 Grover Washington Jr. CS & SDP
26- LN 7 Jay Cooke CS & SDP
26- LN 7 Olney Elementary CS & SDP
26- LN 7 Roberto Clemente CS & SDP
26- LN 7 Thomas K. Finlette CS & SDP
26- LN 7 Thurgood Marshall CS & SDP
26- LN 14 Abraham Lincoln High School CS & SDP
26- LN 14 Building 21 CS & SDP
26- LN 14 Crossroads at Hunting Park CS & SDP
26- LN 14 Frankford High School CS & SDP
26- LN 14 George Washington High School CS & SDP
26- LN 14 Martin Luther King High School CS & SDP
26- LN 14 Northeast High School CS & SDP
26- LN 14 Northeast High School OEP CS & SDP
26- LN 14 Olney High School CS & SDP
26- LN 14 One Bright Ray – Fairhill CS & SDP
26- LN 14 Philadelphia Learning Academy North CS & SDP
26- LN 14 Samuel Fels High School CS & SDP
26- LN 14 Samuel Fels High School CS & SDP
26- LN 14 The LINC CS & SDP
26- LN 14 Thomas A Edison High School CS & SDP
26- LN 14 Widener Memorial School CS & SDP
26- LN 14 YES Philly CS & SDP
26- CS Boys Latin of Philadelphia Charter School CS & SDP
26- CS Esperanza Academy Charter High School CS & SDP
26- CS Esperanza Cyber CS CS & SDP
26- CS Franklin Towne CHS CS & SDP
26- CS Global Leadership Academy Charter School CS & SDP
26- CS Keystone Academy Charter School CS & SDP
26- CS KIPP North Philadelphia Charter School CS & SDP
26- CS Mariana Bracetti Academy Charter School CS & SDP
26- CS Mastery Charter School – Cleveland Elementary CS & SDP
26- CS Mastery Charter School – Pickett Campus CS & SDP
26- CS Mastery Charter School – Shoemaker Campus CS & SDP
26- CS Mastery Charter School – Thomas Campus CS & SDP
26- CS Memphis Street Academy CS @ JP Jones CS & SDP
26- CS New Foundations Charter School CS & SDP
26- CS People for People Charter School CS & SDP
26- CS Philadelphia Performing Arts Charter School CS & SDP
26- CS The Philadelphia Charter School for Arts and Sciences at HR Edmunds CS & SDP
26- CS Southwest Leadership Academy Charter School CS & SDP
26- CS Universal Creighton Charter School CS & SDP
27 Ambridge Area School District West
27 Big Beaver Falls Area School District West
27 Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School West
28 River Valley School District (former Blairsville-Saltsburg) West
28 Freeport Area School District West
28 Leechburg Area School District West
29 Mahanoy Area School District Central
29 North Schuylkill School District Central
*Learning Network (LN)
*Charter School (CS)

On May 28, 2025, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) designated 15 postsecondary institutions as PA CARES campuses for their commitment to preventing suicide and promoting mental health and wellness for their learners. PA CARES is a newly created recognition that ensures postsecondary students have access to support, tools, and resources to learn and thrive.

PA CARES, which stands for “Connect, Assess, Respond, Encourage, Support,” recognizes postsecondary institutions that have implemented Act 110 mental health and suicide prevention plans, enabling school staff to engage with the campus community and empowering students to seek help when they need it.

The National Institute for Mental Health (NIMH) estimates that there are 1,100 suicide deaths per year among college students across the country. According to researchers at Prevent Suicide PA, suicide is the second leading cause of death on American college campuses. It is critical that institutions of higher education (IHEs) proactively identify and implement policies, practices, and strategies for addressing mental health issues and preventing student suicide.

“Four of the schools recognized today are among the 530 colleges and universities that are currently participating or have completed our JED Campus program nationwide. Research shows that students in schools that finished JED Campus were 10% less likely to report suicidal ideation in the previous year, 13% less likely to report having suicide plans, and 25% less likely to attempt suicide as compared to program baseline,” said Martha Sanchez, director of policy at The Jed Foundation (JED). “JED applauds these institutions and the Pennsylvania Department of Education for this significant recognition and for implementing life-saving steps to support and inform student populations about mental health resources available to them.”

By partnering with over 1,200 high schools, colleges, and school districts – representing seven million students – JED is strengthening mental health, substance misuse, and suicide prevention programs and systems. It’s equipping teens and young adults with the skills and knowledge to help themselves and each other. JED is also encouraging community awareness, understanding, and action for young adult mental health.

To become a PA CARES campus, postsecondary institutions must provide: contact information for national, state and local suicide prevention hotlines; crisis intervention services, including the address, telephone number, or any other contact information of individuals with training and experience in mental health issues who focus on suicide prevention; individuals with training and experience available on campus or remotely for students 24 hours a day, seven days a week; mental health services and access, including the necessary information to access mental health services, including, but not limited to, health promotion and wellness, student health and counseling, crisis services, local mental health providers and mental health clinics; multimedia access, including mental health and suicide warning signs, services available to individuals at no cost and available mental health and suicide prevention resources, which may include mobile applications; student communication plans that consist of outreach plans regarding, at a minimum, mental health services and suicide prevention; and post-intervention plans, including a process to create a strategic plan to communicate effectively with students, staff and parents after the loss of a student to suicide.

Institutions must also post the adopted plan on their website along with applicable free prevention materials or programs; provide all incoming students with the contact information for national, state, and local suicide prevention hotlines and crisis intervention services; transmit to each student by mail or email the contact information for national, state, and local suicide prevention hotlines and crisis intervention services no less than twice per calendar year; review and update the plan at least once annually; and submit a current copy of the plan to PDE by August 1 of each year.

If you or someone you know needs help, text, call, or chat with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Click to see the list of 15 postsecondary institutions in PA that have been recognized as CARES campuses.

On May 21, 2025, Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Secretary of Education Dr. Carrie Rowe announced that to help ensure every Pennsylvania student has the freedom to chart their own course and the opportunity to succeed the Shapiro Administration’s investments in career and technical education (CTE) have increased funding for CTE and apprenticeships by more than 50 percent since taking office – a nearly $65 million increase. In addition, the Governor’s 2025-26 budget proposal includes an additional increase of $5.5 million for CTE.

According to Dr. Rowe, “By investing in CTE in Pennsylvania, we are equipping students with valuable skills that can be used throughout their lives, promoting lifelong learning and adaptability, and creating pathways to further education, apprenticeships, and advanced training.”

Career and technical education provides students with practical skills and knowledge directly applicable to specific, in-demand careers – increasing their employability and preparing them for the future. It also gives students the opportunity to explore different career paths while still in high school, helping them make informed decisions about their future education and goals, whether it’s pursuing postsecondary education, joining the military, or entering directly into the workforce.

Currently, there are more than 200 school districts, charter schools, and career and technical centers across the Commonwealth offering nearly 2,000 PDE-approved CTE programs providing education and training to thousands of students.