Category: News

PDE Reduces New Teacher Certification Wait Time By 10 Weeks (July 28, 2023)

On July 28, 2023 the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) announced that processing timelines for In-State Level I certificates have been reduced by approximately 10 weeks since last year. The Department also launched a new feature on its website to improve transparency and responsiveness in the educator certification process. The certification “clock” on PDE’s Certification page will show, in real time, the length of time needed to process a certificate once all required information is submitted to the Department.

The online clock shows that, as of July 28th, an educator can expect their certification to be processed in the following timeframes:

-In-State Level I Certificates: 2-4 weeks
-Level II Certificates: 4-6 weeks
-Add-On Certificates: 1-3 weeks
-Emergency Certificates: 2-4 weeks

The new processing timelines reflect an approximate 10-week improvement in response time since last year for In-State Level I Certifications.

To reduce processing times, PDE increased staffing – hiring four new full-time employees, three temporary employees, and one summer annuitant, and evaluated the process to prioritize Instructional I certificates. The team is working around the clock to process certifications and respond to more than 1,500 emails per week.

Earlier this year, Governor Shapiro unveiled a plan to improve the Commonwealth’s licensing, permitting, and certification processes, beginning a comprehensive review of how long it takes agencies to process applications and how workers and businesses apply online.

Additionally, last year PDE revamped its website to allow current and prospective educators to more easily access information related to certifications. The site restructure used analytics to determine which pages were most highly visited and prioritized them in this effort. The Certification page is consistently one of the most visited pages on the PDE website.

Changes to the Certification page include more easy-to-follow breakdowns on common topics that educators are searching for; condensed and updated frequently asked questions; a step-by-step guide and instructional YouTube video for first-time users; and more. For more information on the Pennsylvania Department of Education, please visit PDE’s website.

PA Again Achieves Highest Level of Achievement for IDEA Part B Implementation (July 28, 2023)

On July 28, 2023 PA Education Secretary Dr. Khalid N. Mumin released a PennLink communiqué titled Pennsylvania’s Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B 2023 – Determinations Notification. The message states that on June 23, 2023 Pennsylvania received notification from the U.S. Department of Education’s (USDE) Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) that the commonwealth received a “Meets Requirements” determination, the highest level that the federal government awards to states under Part B of the IDEA.

Pennsylvania was one of only 23 states and territories that received the distinction this year. The commonwealth’s excellent work in special education has been recognized with the “Meets Requirements” designation for 16 of the 17 years that USDE has been issuing its determinations. This recognition is a testament to the hard work of educators and staff in delivering high-quality services to students with disabilities and their families.

This determination is based on the totality of the commonwealth’s special education data and information, including the federal fiscal year 2021 State Performance Plan/Annual Performance Report (SPP/APR), other state-reported data, and additional publicly available information. Consistent with USDE’s Results Driven Accountability, 2023 determinations were based on the commonwealth’s compliance with the regulatory requirements of the IDEA, as well as the positive outcomes being achieved for students.

In making Part B determinations in 2023, the USDE Office of Special Education Programs considered the following results data for students with disabilities:
-Participation on regular statewide assessments.
-Participation and performance on the most recently administered (school year 2018-19) National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP).
-Graduation with a regular high school diploma.
-Dropout rates.

Pennsylvania’s Part B SPP/APR is available on the Pennsylvania Department of Education website or the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network website. The USDE has developed state profiles as a resource for IDEA-related, state-specific information. Persons interested in reviewing that information may visit the USDE Office of Special Education Program’s Pennsylvania’s Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B 2023 – Determination Notification. 

CDC Survey: One in Five Low-income Children Report ACEs (July 26, 2023)

According to results from the National Health Interview Survey released on July 20, 2023 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in five children in families with incomes up to double the federal poverty level had experienced at least one adverse childhood experience (ACE) in 2021. 

In addition, less than one in eight children in families with incomes double or more than double than the federal poverty level that had experienced at least one stressful life event in 2021.

Children in families with incomes up to double the federal poverty level were also more likely to be a victim of or witness to violence in their neighborhood and live with someone who had a substance abuse problem, was mentally ill or severely depressed, or was in jail.

For more from K-12 Dive, click here.

OSEP Releases a DCL and Revised Guidance on SpEd Noncompliance (July 26, 2023)

On July 24, 2023 Valerie Williams, Director of the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) disseminated  updated policy guidance and a Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) which are aimed at helping states with timely identification and correction of a school district’s noncompliance with early intervention services for infants and toddlers and K-12 special education services. The policy guidance document, titled Guidance on State General Supervision Responsibilities under Parts B and C of the IDEA, is intended to help protect the rights of children with disabilities and their families under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and to facilitate consistent implementation of IDEA among states. In essence, this general supervision guidance document will address requirements related to:
• State general supervision responsibilities;
• Identification and correction of noncompliance;
• The IDEA State performance plan and annual performance report;
• State annual determinations; and
• State enforcement through determinations and other methods

Click to access the updated policy guidance.

Click to access the Dear Colleague Letter.

USDE Strengthens Guidance to Improve Equal Educational Opportunity for Children with Disabilities (July 24, 2023)

On July 24, 2023, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) released updated policy guidance, which takes immediate effect, to ensure and strengthen the rights and protections guaranteed to children with disabilities and their families under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

To View the updated policy guidance from OSEP, click here.