Pennsylvania’s State Performance Plan requirements under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 include collecting and reporting data on the involvement of families in special education programs. Specifically, states must report annually to the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) and the public on State Performance Plan Indicator 8, which is the “percent of parents with a child receiving special education services who report that schools facilitated parent involvement as a means of improving services and results for children with disabilities.”

Like many other states, Pennsylvania is collecting this data through a large-scale survey. Pennsylvania reports results of the survey to OSEP in its State Performance Plan/Annual Performance Report. This report is posted on the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) and the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) websites. Reporting on local educational agency (LEA) performance is done through the Special Education Data Reports on the PennData website.

To ensure that parents from every LEA in the Commonwealth are included in the survey, PDE developed a sampling plan that was approved by OSEP. Under this sampling, each year PDE collects data from a representative sample of parents in approximately one-fifth of the LEAs in the Commonwealth. In addition, not all parents will receive the survey as it is a sample within each LEA. The LEAs in this year’s sample are listed below. Parents receiving the survey were selected from PA Special Education Data using a stratified random sample of school age students in each LEA. Surveys will be mailed directly to the parents from Leader Services in the next few weeks.

The survey being used was developed by the National Center for Special Education Accountability Monitoring under a grant awarded to that center by OSEP. Additional information about the survey can be found on the PaTTAN website at PA Indicator 8 Survey.

A representative sample of parents from the LEAs listed will receive a postcard with instructions for completing the anonymous and confidential survey. Parents may direct questions about the survey to the Special Education Consult Line at 800-879-2301.

LEAs are encouraged to alert families to watch out for the postcards, this may serve to facilitate and encourage participation. Please keep in mind that questions regarding this notification and requests for translation of the survey into any language other than English and Spanish may be addressed to Barbara Mozina, Special Education Advisor, at [email protected].

Intermediate Unit 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 6 6 6 6 6 7 7 7 7 7 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 9 9 9 9 9 10 10 10 11 11 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 13 13 14 14 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 16 16 16 17 17 17 18 19 19 19 19 19 20 20 20 20 21 21 22 22 22 22 23 23 23 24 24 25 25 25 26 26 26 26 26 26 26 26 26 26 26 26 26 26 26 28 28 28 29

Local Education AgencyAlbert Gallatin Area SD Frazier SD Central Greene SD Chartiers-Houston SD Peters Township SD Trinity Area SD The New Academy CS Catalyst Academy CS Propel CS – Hazelwood Propel CS – Northside Urban Pathways K-5 College CS Propel CS – Homestead Young Scholars of Greater Allegheny CS Avonworth SD Bethel Park SD Elizabeth Forward SD Spectrum CS Gateway SD Penn Hills SD Plum Borough SD Quaker Valley SD Shaler Area SD Steel Valley SD Upper St. Clair SD Wilkinsburg Borough SD Life Male STEAM Academy CS Woodland Hills SD Propel CS – Braddock Hills Union Area SD Keystone Education Center CS Lakeview SD Reynolds SD Crawford Central SD Harbor Creek SD Northwestern SD Clarion Area SD Clarion-Limestone Area SD Keystone SD Forest Area SD Valley Grove SD Dr Robert Ketterer CS Inc Greater Latrobe SD Greensburg Salem SD Ligonier Valley SD New Kensington-Arnold SD Central PA Digital Learning Foundation CS Altoona Area SD Bellwood-Antis SD Spring Cove SD Tyrone Area SD Greater Johnstown SD Richland SD Conemaugh Township Area SD Rockwood Area SD Shade-Central City SD Turkeyfoot Valley Area SD Cameron County SD Saint Marys Area SD Otto-Eldred SD Coudersport Area SD Galeton Area SD Sugar Valley Rural CS Penns Valley Area SD Harmony Area SD Juniata Valley SD New Day CS Fairfield Area SD Gettysburg Area SD Greencastle-Antrim SD Eastern York SD Northeastern York SD Spring Grove Area SD York City SD Gettysburg Montessori CS Solanco SD Cornwall-Lebanon SD Hamburg Area SD Kutztown Area SD East Pennsboro Area SD West Shore SD Premier Arts and Science CS Harrisburg City SD Millersburg Area SD Pennsylvania STEAM Academy CS Susquehanna Township SD West Perry SD Benton Area SD Berwick Area SD Mifflinburg Area SD Athens Area SD Wyalusing Area SD Montgomery Area SD Pittston Area SD North Pocono SD Scranton SD Forest City Regional SD Mountain View SD Lackawanna Trail SD Pleasant Valley SD Lehigh Valley Academy Regional CS Nazareth Area SD Wilson Area SD Innovative Arts Academy CS Executive Education Academy CS Bucks County Montessori CS Morrisville Borough SD Neshaminy SD New Hope-Solebury SD Pennsylvania Virtual CS Pottstown SD Souderton Area SD Renaissance Academy CS Kennett Consolidated SD Chester-Upland SD Marple Newtown SD Radnor Township SD Green Woods CS Discovery CS Northwood Academy CS TECH Freire CS Mastery CS – Clymer Elementary Imhotep Institute CHS West Oak Lane CS Young Scholars CS Global Leadership Academy CS Philadelphia Performing Arts CS Universal Vare CS Philadelphia City SD KIPP West Philadelphia CS Mastery CS – Francis D. Pastorius Elementary Pan American Academy CS Indiana Area SD Penns Manor Area SD United SD Schuylkill Haven Area SD

On January 10, 2025, the PA Department of Health (PDH) Division of School Health has sent a memo to make all LEAs aware of several recent changes made to the PA School Code pertaining to student health initiatives. Act 117 of 2024 requires all school entities, including school districts, area career and technical schools, charter schools, regional charter schools, cyber charter schools, and intermediate units, and nonpublic schools to share Type 1 Diabetes educational materials with parents and guardians of students either in writing, electronically, or on the school entity or nonpublic school’s publicly accessible internet website. The attached Type 1 Diabetes educational materials must be made available beginning with the 2025-2026 school year. The materials are also available on the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s website at this link: Act 117 – Parental Education of Type 1 Diabetes | Department of Health | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Additionally, Act 120 of 2024 established a new protocol for tick removal from students. This protocol must be implemented in all public school entities including school districts, intermediate units, charter schools, cyber charter schools, regional charter schools and area career and technical schools as soon as possible. Please see the attached guidance from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, which is also available online at this link:  Act 120 Tick Legislation Guidance for School Nurses

Documents and information can also be accessed on the PAPSA website by clicking on the items below or visiting the “Resources” drop-down and selecting “Downloads.”

–School Health Room Tick Removal Flyer
–Act Act 117 of 2024 – Type 1 Diabetes Educational Materials to be Shared with Parents and Guardians
–Diabetes Parent Fact Sheet
–Act 120 of 2024 Establishes a New Protocol that Must be Used for Tick Removal
–Tick Legislation Guidance for School Nurses

The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) today released the latest issue of the Positive Approaches Journal, which aims to provide the most recent research for people with mental and behavioral health challenges, intellectual disabilities, autism, and other developmental disabilities to help them live an everyday life. This edition focuses on the importance of trauma-informed training so that interactions between law enforcement and individuals with autism can be de-escalated and handled safely for all involved. 

“DHS works to ensure that Pennsylvanians with intellectual disabilities and autism have the services and supports they need, but we also want to make sure that all Pennsylvanians have these resources,” said DHS Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh. “We know that there is no one way to approach a law enforcement interaction but it is our hope that the research in this edition of the Positive Approaches Journal can help law enforcement, as well as individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism and their families, find the resources they need to improve their everyday lives.”

In June 2024, informed by conversations with individuals with autism and their families, the Pennsylvania State Police created a card that can be carried by people with autism and presented during any encounter with law enforcement to ensure the interaction is as safe and productive as possible. PSP’s Office of Community Engagement developed the informational card, which is available on the Safety Resources page of PSP’s website. Individuals may print the card from the website and carry it in a wallet, or they can choose to save it on their phone.

“Trauma-informed training and resources like this are critical in fostering safer and more effective interactions between law enforcement and individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism,” said Colonel Christopher Paris, Commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police. “When officers are aware of and prepared for the unique needs of these individuals, they can respond in ways that promote safety and reduce the risk of misunderstandings.”

The Shapiro Administration believes that every Pennsylvanian with intellectual disabilities and autism deserves to receive the supports they need to achieve an everyday life with dignity and opportunity to pursue their goals and live, work, and recreate among their families and peers. Life-changing investments in Governor Josh Shapiro’s bipartisan 2024-25 budget secured historic increases in funding for home and community-based services for Pennsylvanians with intellectual disability and autism (ID/A) as well as increases in rates for the providers responsible for essential care and support of these individuals every day.

This edition of the Positive Approaches Journal features research and articles on the following:

• Data Discoveries investigates encounters between the justice system and individuals with autism and outlines how interactions can be prevented or deescalated and can result in more equitable outcomes. 
• How WE Can Keep Our Autistic Loved Ones Safer details trainings and provides case studies for both law enforcement and individuals with autism and their loved ones to help have safer interactions with law enforcement.
• Police Department Mental Health Liaison Program details the successes of a pilot program in Lehigh County to assess the needs of individuals who engage with the police and refer them to the appropriate service providers. 
• Aid in PA: Resources for Emergency Preparedness demonstrates the Aid in PA website, which was launched during the COVID-19 pandemic as a source for accurate emergency information and resources for Pennsylvanians who are autistic and/or have an intellectual/developmental disability (IDD).
• Pennsylvania Crisis Intervention Teams: Enhancing Police Responses to Mental Health Crises details the development of Crisis Intervention Teams (CITs) in police departments across the Commonwealth to respond appropriately to behavioral health crises.
• THE POINT: Empowering Youth outlines an organization that provides an after-school community center, on-campus support and mentoring, and a program to support students in juvenile detention.

The journal is a collaboration of DHS’ Office of Developmental Programs and Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. It collects resources, observations, and advancements in mental and behavioral health in order to better serve people in their communities.

Read this edition of the Positive Approaches Journal.

For more information visit www.dhs.pa.gov.