Category: News in the Field

PDE Provides State Performance Plan Data Requirements – Postsecondary School Exit Survey for Cohort 1 LEAs (July 24, 2025)

The accountability requirement under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 (IDEA) mandates each state determines the extent to which students are achieving transition outcomes (State Performance Plan – Indicator 14). To meet the federal reporting requirement, each local educational agency (LEA) is mandated to administer an Exit Process and Post-School Surveys to students (who have graduated, dropped out or reached the maximum age) with individualized education programs (IEPs) once over a five-year period, based on the LEA’s assignment to a targeted sampling year.

For the 2025-2026 school year, LEAs assigned to target sampling Cohort 1 are required to administer the My Plan for Success (MP4S) Exit Process. During 2026-2027, these same LEAs will be required to complete the Post-School Surveys.

Cohort 1 Requirements for the Exit Process Administration for 2025–2026:
-Attend the My Plan for Success Exit Overview Webinar on September 18, 2025, from 9:00–11:00 a.m. This session covers the administration of the Exit Process.
-Attend the My Plan for Success Exit Procedural Training Webinar on February 19, 2026, from 9:00–11:00 a.m. This session includes guidance on accessing and entering information into the online system.
-Register for both webinars via the PaTTAN Training Calendar.

For questions about the MP4S Exit Process or Indicator 14, LEAs should contact PaTTAN Educational Consultant, Hillary Mangis, hmangis@pattanpgh.net.

20 States Sue White House over Immigration Restrictions for Head Start (July 24, 2025)

On July 21, 2025 twenty states and the District of Columbia sued the Trump administration in the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island, challenging the administration’s decision earlier this month to restrict publicly funded programs — including those related to education — based on immigration status.

The lawsuit, led by New York, argues that the restrictions to previously inclusive programs like Head Start will hurt low-income families and lead to the ”collapse of some of the nation’s most vital public programs.”

Seeking to block the changes in the short and long term, the states allege the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) and three other federal agencies did not follow the required rulemaking process in issuing new immigration verification requirements. The lawsuit alleges that the policy changes will impact not only undocumented immigrants, but also people holding legal status, such as temporary workers, exchange visitors and those with student visas. The suit was filed in federal district court in the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island.

The lawsuit follows an existing lawsuit over the Trump administration’s actions vis-a-vis Head Start to include “this new attack on Head Start.” That April 2025 ACLU-led lawsuit challenged the administration’s moves to gut Head Start by shuttering half of the regional Office of Head Start offices and laying off much of the federal offices’ staff. Plaintiffs in that lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Washington state, included parent groups and the Head Start associations of Washington, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

For more from K-12 Dive click here.

2023-24 PA Children’s Trust Fund and Strengthening Families™ Annual Report (July 24, 2025)

Pennsylvania Children’s Trust Fund (CTF) provides funding for evidence-based and research-informed child abuse prevention programs, which focus on preventing abuse before it occurs for the first time.

Pennsylvania Strengthening Families Leadership Team (SFLT) activities are supported by the CTF Board, which contracts with CSC to facilitate this work. SFLT works to promote the inclusion of the Strengthening Families™ Protective Factors Framework into policies, programs and practices in multiple family service systems throughout the state.

In 2023-2024:
-More than $1 million in CTF grant funds were issued to nearly 20 grantees.
-More than 10 evidence-based, evidence informed, and promising practices were offered by CTF grantees to families.
-826 people participated in professional learning experiences.

Read CTF – Strengthening Families Annual Report

Understanding and Implementing Act 1 of 2022: A Guide for School Staff (July 23, 2024)

Act 1 of 2022 (Act 1) establishes clear responsibilities for school entities to support students experiencing educational instability, ensuring they have equitable access to academics and extracurricular activities. The law promotes proactive planning and assessment to help students stay on track for timely high school graduation. By removing barriers, addressing individual needs, and providing essential support, Act 1 strengthens protections for Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable students, reinforcing the state’s commitment to educational stability and success.

The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), in collaboration with the Center for Schools and Communities (CSC), is dedicated to helping schools accurately identify all students eligible for Act 1 of 2022 and ensuring they receive the full benefits of the law.

Watch CSC staff Benjamin Simmons, Matthew Butensky, and Meghan Dale provide an informative session on the fundamentals of Act 1 of 2022. Gain an overview of the legislation, its key provisions, and practical strategies for effective implementation in educational settings.

Watch Act 1 Guide for School Staff.

Sign up for Act 1 of 2022 email updates.

OMB Releases Summer & Afterschool Funds, But too Late for Many (July 20, 2025)

On July 18, 2025, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will now release the federal funding for after-school and summer programs that districts and states expected to begin accessing July 1 but had been frozen by the OMB. The $1.3 billion for 21st Century Community Learning Centers was under review by OMB to ensure the funding aligned with Trump administration priorities and allegations that funds have been grossly abused to promote a radical leftwing DEI agenda.

Sadly, the delay already caused cancellations and other disruptions to summer and school-year student services. In fact, the chaos and harm caused by the delay resulted in summer learning programs abruptly shutting down and a large number of afterschool programs canceling plans to open in the fall as the uncertainty caused those programs to fall behind in hiring, outreach, contracting and other work.

Still under OMB review is about $5.6 billion in other K-12 funds, including programs for English learners, professional development, student academic supports, migrant services and adult education. OMB did not provide a time frame for the review or release of those funds.

For more from K-12 Dive click here.