Category: News

USDE Provides Raising the Bar for Children’s Mental Health (March 28, 2024)

On Monday, April 1, 2024 from 2:00-4:30 p.m. EST,  The U.S. Department of Education in partnership with the Center for Medicaid Services (CMS) Health and Human Services (HHS), will convene state and local government leaders virtually to discuss investing in children’s mental health and well-being.  The convening will feature schools, districts, and states that are successfully providing school-based services and are investing in building schools’ capacity to support student mental health. It will also raise the issue of sustainability and discuss resources available to ensure states are positioned to utilize Medicaid funds to sustain these efforts long-term.

The webinar is open to the public and anyone can attend.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

PDE Announces Compliance Monitoring Training for Peer Monitors (March 28, 2024)

On March 26, 2024, BSE Director Carole L. Clancy sent a PennLink message to all LEAS titled Compliance Monitoring Training for Peer Monitors. The message states that the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) has the responsibility to ensure that all school districts and charter schools administer special education programs and services that comply with state and federal laws and regulations. To fulfill this responsibility, the Bureau of Special Education (BSE) trains individuals to serve as peer monitors on special education monitoring teams. The training will review the updated monitoring procedures that peer monitors will utilize to assist in the monitoring. This includes file reviews, interviews, online data entry and logistical processes.

All interested individuals, including currently contracted peer monitors, must complete this mandated training in person to continue to serve as peer monitors for the 2024-25 school year through the 2028-29 school year. The following individuals may serve as peer monitors: current peer monitors, retired special education personnel, advocates, family members, special education administrators.

Registration is available on the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network’s (PaTTAN) website at https://www.pattan.net/events/.

This required in-person training will be offered:
Monday, May 13, 2024, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM              Allegheny IU 3
Tuesday, May 14, 2024, 9:00 AM – Noon                  PaTTAN West
Wednesday, May 15, 2024, 9:00 AM – Noon             Riverview IU 6
Friday, May 17, 2024, 9:00 AM – Noon                     PaTTAN Central
Monday, May 20, 2024, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM             PaTTAN East
Tuesday, May 21, 2024, 9:00 AM – Noon                  Luzerne IU 18
Tuesday, June 4, 2024, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM              School District of Philadelphia

Please contact Charmaine Lee at [email protected] for questions.

USDE Sends Dear Colleague Letter Urging Schools to Address 2024-25 Attendance Issues (March 28, 2024)

On March 22, 2024, U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona sent a Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) informing schools that “there is still more work to do” to address chronic student absenteeism as the 2024-25 approaches.
Thus far, many school districts have increased home visits and utilized dashboards to effectively track attendance.
In his letter, Sec. Cardona urged schools to use accountability systems to measure chronic absenteeism to identify schools for support and improvement. He also enjoined each state to commit to helping students attend and engage in school daily, ensure more students attend regularly for the rest of the 2023-24 school year, and to lay a foundation now for more progress in the 2024-25 school year.
Click here to access the DCL.

Due to Miscalculation of Data, FAFSA Forms Corrections are Now the Latest Delay (March 28, 2024)

On March 25, 2024, the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) announced that the ability for students to make updates and corrections to their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forms in the first half of April. This is another delay in a process that has been rife with delays and technical issues.

In advance of that implementation, USDE will provide detailed information to partners, students, and families on how to correct the most common FAFSA form errors including no signatures and selecting ‘yes’ to applying for unsubsidized loans only (Question 8).

The reason for this most recent delay is due to a recently identified a vendor issue that was incorrectly calculating the Student Aid Index for records of dependent students with assets. That issue has now been resolved.

To date, the U.S. Department of Education (Department) has processed more than 4.3 million FAFSA forms and delivered ISIRs to the majority of schools, states, and designated scholarship organizations.

Click here for more information from the USDE.

USDE, HHS, and PaTTAN Provide Student Discipline and Inclusion Guidance to LEAs (March 25, 2024)

On March 25, 2024, Bureau of Special Education Director Carole L. Clancy sent a PENN*LINK message to all LEAs with the subject line Recent Guidance issued by the U.S. Departments of Education, Health and Human Services and PaTTAN. That message states that, for the 2023-24 school year, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), Bureau of Special Education (BSE) is sharing updated links to recent guidance issued by the U.S. Departments of Education (USDE) and Health and Human Services (HHS). The links below will cover the topics of discipline provisions for students with disabilities as set forth in the Individuals with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), inclusion of students with disabilities in early childhood programs, general supervision responsibilities, student discipline under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, military-connected children with disabilities and Intervener Services. These links are provided for review.

For additional information, please visit the following sites.

For questions about the recent guidance, please email Tim Krushinski [email protected].