The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) are announcing the schedule for annual statewide training sessions offered to all participating School-Based ACCESS Program (SBAP) teams. Local educational agencies (LEAs) that are interested in beginning to participate in the SBAP are also welcome to participate in annual training.

Live trainings are scheduled across two dates, which will be recorded and made available through the SBAP Website. You may register to attend the sessions based on your location and availability. Registration is required; (instructions below).

Participation is strongly encouraged. LEAs are encouraged to assign at least one representative to attend each training session in order to receive important SBAP information.

LEAs are encouraged to submit questions in advance to DHS at RA-PWSBAP@pa.gov with “Fall Training Question” included in the subject of your email. Presenters will address as many of these as possible during relevant session, and they will be used in compiling a list of Frequently Asked Questions to be issued after the annual trainings are complete.

Dates: September 9 & 10
Method: In-Person in Harrisburg and Via Zoom

Session Descriptions

Day One: September 9, 2025
SBAP 101 – (9:00-10:00) This session is for LEA staff new to SBAP or those wanting a refresher. We will cover program basics including:
An overview of the program, how to get started if you’ve never participated before, what your commitment is as a participating LEA, how and when your LEA can receive reimbursement, and resources and contacts for getting the information you need to be successful. 
SBAP 102 – (10:15-11:15) This session will look more closely at the LEA tasks and responsibilities to keep funds coming in, including the importance of bringing budget and HR staff to the table before cost reporting. We will look at the annual calendar with key dates and milestones and identify areas to investigate if your LEA is not receiving interim payments as you are expecting.
Documentation & Compliance – (12:30-1:30) This session will provide an overview of SBAP documentation requirements, situations where your LEA’s documentation may be reviewed, and how you can be prepared. The three primary oversight activities are: 1) QARs – a one-on-one conversation with your LEA Liaison to review your participation in the SBAP; 2) O&M reviews – a review of the correctness of one fiscal year’s cost settlement; and 3) BPI reviews – standard reviews of a small sampling of claims submitted by your LEA.
Direct Service Reports Management – (1:45-2:45) Staff from DHS and SSG will provide a review of available direct services reports, discuss how to access and maintain the reports, and explain why it’s important to keep up with this data. We will cover how these reports can help with compliance and with assuring your LEA receives, and keeps, funding. In addition, we will review a few basic Excel functions that can help you to easily compile, sort, and filter information in the reports.

Day Two: September 10, 2025
Where Are We Now, Where Are We Going – (9:00-10:00) In this session, DHS will share results of surveys collected and stakeholder feedback sessions and provide status on the CMS grant and updates on the anticipated changes to the State Plan Amendment and the Random Moment Time Study. We will also discuss the goals for implementation of these changes.
Intersection of PDE & MA – (10:15-11:15) In this session, staff from DHS and PDE will discuss how the requirements for writing an IEP and obtaining medical authorization align – as well as how sometimes they don’t align and what your LEA needs to do about that. This discussion will include recent clarifications from CMS regarding specialized transportation. PDE will address common questions about parental consent, including best practices. We will also discuss the use of funds from your FAI accounts and how to determine which funding source is the most appropriate in any given circumstance.
RMTS – (12:30-1:30) this session, DHS will provide updates for FY25-26 school year, including- the beginning of the 2-day response window, and the kickoff of an active summer quarter in 2026. In addition, this session will address how to ensure you receive RMTS communications, how to manage/ respond to notifications and follow-up communications, and tips for maintaining compliance.
SSG System Updates – (1:45-2:45) In this session, staff from SSG will demonstrate enhancements and updates to MAXCapture and e-SivicMACS that are, or will be, available for the FY25-26 school year.

Registration is required.
Registration is available for each live session online via the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN). Recorded trainings will be made available on the SBAP Website for any who are not able to attend at the time of the live training.

Please contact Sharon Kennedy at skennedy@pattan.net with any registration questions.

For content questions, please contact DHS at RA-PWSBAP@pa.gov or the SBAP vendor at PAsupport@sivicsolutionsgroup.com.

FROM PDE:

The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) has the responsibility to ensure that all school districts providing gifted education, whether directly or by contractual arrangements, administer gifted education services and programs in compliance with applicable state and federal laws and regulations. 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 developed the schedule for compliance monitoring for the 2025-26 school year, in which 10 school districts of varying sizes across the Commonwealth 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 each school district and a virtual and/or onsite review by a PDE team, which may include peers who will conduct teacher/parent interviews or file reviews. The process includes a review of the GFSA submitted by the district; 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.

Districts to be monitored will be emailed a video training link by August 15, 2025. Districts must email Marcia Wilson at marciawils@pa.gov by September 01, 2025 indicating the video has been viewed. The training will review the virtual/onsite monitoring process, documents, and GFSA submission, and provide suggestions and checklists regarding preparation and implementation of the monitoring process. Monitored districts are strongly encouraged to review the Gifted Monitoring Manual on PDE’s website, seek assistance from the IU Gifted Liaison for mock monitoring and/or the assigned monitoring chairperson.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation in complying with this state mandate. PDE recognizes the time and effort required on behalf of districts to successfully participate in gifted monitoring. Should you have any questions regarding the 2025-26 monitoring schedule outlined below, please contact Marcia Wilson at marciawils@pa.gov for assistance.

GIFTED EDUCATION COMPLIANCE MONITORING SCHEDULE
School Districts to be Monitored in 2025-26

LEA Name Week to be Monitored  Seneca Valley School District Week of October 13, 2025 Armstrong Area School District Week of November 3, 2025 Kiski Area School District Week of November 10, 2025 West Perry School District Week of November 17, 2025 Dallastown Area School District Week of March 16, 2026 Hanover Public School District Week of March 23, 2026 Wilkes-Barre Area School District Week of April 13, 2026 Deer Lakes School District Week of April 27, 2026 Palmerton Area School District Week of May 4, 2026 Quakertown Community School District Week of May 11, 2026

Governor Shapiro’s 2025-26 budget proposal calls for an additional $5 million for the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) to support OVR’s work in helping Pennsylvanians with disabilities to find and keep employment, including through the MY Work program. 

Since the start of the Shapiro Administration, 2,400 young Pennsylvanians have gained paid work experiences to help them become successfully employed following graduation. This summer, OVR has set up more than 500 students with paid work experiences at 100 worksites across 57 counties. Through MY Work, high school students with disabilities are matched with paid jobs in their local communities — helping them gain valuable skills, build confidence, and prepare for independent adulthood and future employment.

In 2016, L&I’s OVR team started the MY Work program in Allegheny County with just 50 students in its first year. In 2021, the program was expanded statewide, and since then has connected more than 2,500 high school students across Pennsylvania with paid employment opportunities. This summer alone, over 500 students are working at 100 worksites in 57 counties — all with wages fully covered by OVR at no cost to municipalities. 

Services like MY Work help employers create more inclusive workplaces while opening up life-changing opportunities for Pennsylvanians with disabilities. Across its many services and programs, OVR serves approximately 50,000 Pennsylvanians each year, partnering with employers to match businesses with skilled, motivated workers. Last year alone, OVR helped place 6,000 Pennsylvanians with disabilities into jobs at over 3,500 companies. 

Governor Shapiro’s budget proposal reflects his broader vision to invest in Pennsylvania’s workforce and create real pathways to opportunity for every resident. In addition to the OVR investment, the budget proposes:

• $3.5 million for the Schools-to-Work Program to help students transition into high-demand careers
• $5 million to launch the Nurse Shortage Assistance Program to recruit and train the next generation of nurses
• $10 million to expand apprenticeship programs and grow the skilled workforce through earn-and-learn opportunities
• $21 million to raise wages, provide paid time off, and increase access to affordable insurance for approximately 8,500 direct care workers who support adults with physical disabilities and seniors

Read more about the 2025-26 budget proposal.

The PA Department of Human Services (DHS) Office of Children, Youth and Families (OCYF) have announced the return of the‘Back to School’ Webinar Series. This year’s webinar series is a continued collaboration between the DHS, OCYF, the American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law, the Center for Schools and Communities, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Bureau of Special Education (BSE), and the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN).

The information covered in the sessions will apply to all staff and organizations providing services to school-age children. Acknowledging that the standard capacity for Microsoft 365 business is 300, agencies are asked to limit attendance to one to two participants or to view the sessions in a format that would allow multiple attendees to participate simultaneously.

This series’ targeted audience is for individuals involved in supporting the educational stability and well-being of youth in foster care, to include, but not limited to:

• Regional OCYF staff
• County Children and Youth Agencies – education points of contact and caseworkers
• Independent Living casework staff
• Licensed providers under 3680 and 3800 

For additional information, please review the 2025 Back-to-School Webinar Series flyer or contact Dawn Traill at datraill@pa.gov.