On , 2025, Pennsylvania received notification from the U.S. Department of Education’s (USDE) Office of Special Education Programs that the Commonwealth has 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 20 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 18 of the 19 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.
The “Meets Requirements” determination is based on the Commonwealth’s special education results and compliance data, including information related to the participation of children with disabilities (CWD) on statewide assessments; the participation and performance of CWD on the most recently administered (2024) National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP); exiting data on CWD who dropped out and CWD who graduated with a regular high school diploma; the state’s federal fiscal year (FFY) 2023 State Performance Plan/Annual Performance Report (SPP/APR); information from monitoring and other public information, such as Specific Conditions on the state’s grant award under IDEA Part B; and other issues related to state compliance with the IDEA.
Pennsylvania’s Part B SPP/APR is available on the Pennsylvania Department of Education website.
The USDE has developed state profiles as a resource for IDEA-related, state-specific information. Persons interested in reviewing IDEA-related files for Pennsylvania may visit the USDE Office of Special Education Program’s state profile website.
Questions regarding this information may be directed to Amy Pastorak, Assistant Director of the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Bureau of Special Education, at apastorak@pa.gov.