On July 5, 2022,  BSE Director Carole L. Clancy released a PennLink titled Special Education Performance Grant – Transition Discoveries: Designing Pathways to Competitive Integrated Employment 2022-2024. The message states that the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), Bureau of Special Education is requesting applications from Local Education Agencies (LEAs) and Approved Private Schools (APS) interested in using the Transition Discoveries framework and Quality Indicators survey to create evidence-based systems that improve competitive integrated employment outcomes for transition-aged youth with disabilities. Through the use of the Transition Discoveries framework, school communities will co-design opportunities for youth, families, and stakeholders to build on their knowledge, skills, and relationships to prepare youth for life after high school. By utilizing the framework, school communities are empowered to identify transition practices and design new approaches that help youth with disabilities better reach their goals.

The purpose of the Transition Discoveries: Designing Pathways to Competitive Integrated Employment grant is to:

• Build a team to create and support engagement in the collection, review, and analysis of survey data to develop a customized approach to the transition planning process to improve inclusive transition services and supports for students with disabilities.
• Empower youth, families, educators, and community members to serve as meaningful partners in the design and delivery of transition planning and systemic implementation of transition services.
• Utilize available resources and supports to improve and increase cross agency collaboration.

LEAs and APSs, including career and technical centers, charters schools, cyber charter schools, intermediate units, and school districts, are eligible to apply. Grant monies will be awarded to applicants with a full complement of Transition Change Agent Team members and who have evaluated and described their readiness to successfully implement Transition Discoveries and all required activities.

Funding of up to $45,000 over the two-year grant period will be available for each successful applicant from the date of the award through August 15, 2024.

This two-year grant opportunity will require LEA or APS Implementation Teams to:

• Form a Transition Change Agent Team.
• Utilize Transition Discoveries tools and protocols to collect data from youth, families, and community partners.
• Identify up to four priorities from the Transition Discoveries Quality Indicators data.
• Participate in asynchronous and synchronous professional development.
• Develop and implement a community action plan.

The application is posted on the Secondary Transition webpage of the PaTTAN website. Applications must be received by Monday, September 12, 2022, at 3:00 PM.

PaTTAN educational consultants will provide an informational webinar regarding the grant application process on Friday, August 5, 2022, at 10:00 AM. Register for the webinar using the following link:

https://pattanpgh.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUodu6uqDktG9FiTUtodjO1uVFR0S8W5VEH.

The webinar will be recorded and posted on the PaTTAN website.  For questions regarding the Transition Discoveries: Designing Pathways to Competitive Integrated Employment grant contact: Hillary Mangis, Jacki Lyster, or Matt Flanagan.

On Friday, July 8th, Governor Tom Wolf vetoes HB 972, which bars transgender girls and women from participating on women’s athletic teams or sports. In his veto letter, the governor claims that “discrimination against already marginalized youth representing less than half of 1 percent of Pennsylvania’s population.”

Click here to view the letter.

On July 5, 2022 Bureau of Special Education Director Carole L. Clancy released a PennLink message titled Special Education Performance Grant – Transition Discoveries: Designing Pathways to Competitive Integrated Employment 2022-2024. The message states that the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), Bureau of Special Education is requesting applications from Local Education Agencies (LEAs) and Approved Private Schools (APS) interested in using the Transition Discoveries framework and Quality Indicators survey to create evidence-based systems that improve competitive integrated employment outcomes for transition-aged youth with disabilities. Through the use of the Transition Discoveries framework, school communities will co-design opportunities for youth, families, and stakeholders to build on their knowledge, skills, and relationships to prepare youth for life after high school. By utilizing the framework, school communities are empowered to identify transition practices and design new approaches that help youth with disabilities better reach their goals.

The purpose of the Transition Discoveries: Designing Pathways to Competitive Integrated Employment grant is to:

1. Build a team to create and support engagement in the collection, review, and analysis of survey data to develop a customized approach to the transition planning process to improve inclusive transition services and supports for students with disabilities.
2. Empower youth, families, educators, and community members to serve as meaningful partners in the design and delivery of transition planning and systemic implementation of transition services.
3. Utilize available resources and supports to improve and increase cross agency collaboration.

LEAs and APSs, including career and technical centers, charters schools, cyber charter schools, intermediate units, and school districts, are eligible to apply. Grant monies will be awarded to applicants with a full complement of Transition Change Agent Team members and who have evaluated and described their readiness to successfully implement Transition Discoveries and all required activities.

 Funding of up to $45,000 over the two-year grant period will be available for each successful applicant from the date of the award through August 15, 2024.

This two-year grant opportunity will require LEA or APS Implementation Teams to:

-Form a Transition Change Agent Team.
-Utilize Transition Discoveries tools and protocols to collect data from youth, families, and community partners.
-Identify up to four priorities from the Transition Discoveries Quality Indicators data.
-Participate in asynchronous and synchronous professional development.
-Develop and implement a community action plan.

The application is posted on the Secondary Transition webpage of the PaTTAN website. Applications must be received by Monday, September 12, 2022, at 3:00 PM.

PaTTAN educational consultants will provide an informational webinar regarding the grant application process on Friday, August 5, 2022, at 10:00 AM. Register for the webinar by clicking here or go to:

https://pattanpgh.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUodu6uqDktG9FiTUtodjO1uVFR0S8W5VEH.

As the PA state budget deadline of midnight on June 30th passed, legislators continued to attempt to iron out sticking points as they negotiate an approximate $42 billion spending plan. At issue is how much and how to use a multi-billion-dollar surplus. A particular sticking point is in education funding, where Democrats are looking to invest in safety measures with a focus on gun violence prevention, property tax relief, and fair funding for schools, including expenses that result from state and federal mandates. On the other hand, Republicans are urging caution in spending and preparing  for upcoming “rainy days.”

It is reported by CBS 21 that around $800 million could be going to public schools, which is almost nine percent higher than the present budgeted number, but less than the $1.8 B that the governor has requested.