In accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Chapters 14 and 15 of the State Board Regulations, PDE provides general supervision over all public schools, school districts, and other public education agencies within the state to ensure that each student with a disability receives a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) and that each family has the benefits of a system of procedural safeguards.
To fulfill this responsibility, the Bureau of Special Education (BSE):
- Requires each school district and intermediate unit to submit a Special Education Plan and applications for Federal Funds which meet requirements of Federal and State regulations;
- Conducts Compliance Monitoring for Continuous Improvement (CMCI) of school districts, charter schools, and early intervention programs to ensure compliance with applicable regulations;
- Cyclical Monitoring is conducted every six years among all public school districts and charter schools;
- Focused Monitoring may be conducted annually among school districts and charter schools whose data does not meet established accountability benchmarks;
- Targeted Monitoring may be conducted among school districts and charter schools where particular compliance issues are noted requiring closer review;
- In accordance with the Gaskin Settlement Agreement Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) Monitoring will be conducted among school districts that are the lowest ranking in the state in including special education students in regular education classrooms for all or part of the school day;
- Following monitoring visits, PDE sends reports to the school districts detailing results. The school district must correct any difficulties that are present. BSE staff verifies the school districts' corrective actions.
- Provides State complaint resolution Procedures wherein anyone can file a complaint of non-compliance that may result in an investigation and follow-up corrective action;
- The Special Education Consult Line is a toll-free service that provides information to families, organizations, and legislative staff with regulations, and information about special education programs and policy. CONSULTLINE
- The Call Resolution Process is provided by Consult Line to expedite solving communication issues between school districts and parents of eligible students. The Call Resolution Process or CRP has been highly effective in bringing a speedy resolution to issues.
- The Office for Dispute Resolution coordinates and manages Consult Line, IEP Facilitations, special education mediation and due process hearing system. ODR also provides help with procedural safeguards to parents, advocates, school districts, and intermediate units.
- Provides Training and Technical Assistance throughout the state to address current and projected special education and related services personnel needs, coordinating and facilitating efforts among school districts, intermediate units, institutions of higher education, service providers of early intervention, and various state agencies to recruit, prepare and retain qualified personnel, including personnel from minority backgrounds, and personnel with disabilities. Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network
- Provides interagency coordination to students with disabilities whose school districts have determined that they cannot be appropriately educated in a public educational setting and who have waited more than 30 days for the provision of an appropriate educational placement. This system is also aimed at providing assistance to students who are at substantial risk of waiting more than 30 days for an appropriate educational placement. Intensive Interagency Coordination
The Bureau of Special Education (BSE) monitors all school districts and charter schools in the state to ensure that they are complying with federal and state special education regulations and are improving performance outcomes of students with disabilities.
All programs are monitored at least once over a six year cycle. Monitoring is conducted onsite by a team of trained personnel. Following the onsite monitoring, the BSE sends a report of findings to the school district or charter school. If noncompliance has been found, it must be corrected as soon as possible but no later than one year from the report. School districts and charter schools may also be required to engage in improvement planning to address substantive changes over time, e.g. improvement in graduation rates. Improvement plans may require more than one year from initiation to completion. The BSE works with the local program to ensure that resources are in place to assist the local education agency, and verifies completion of all corrective action and improvement plans.
There is some variation in the monitoring document used for school districts vs. charter schools due to different regulatory requirements governing each type of entity. However, the major components of cyclical monitoring are the same and are as follows:
The Facilitated Self Assessment- to evaluate the school district or charter school’s compliance with required policies and procedures and assess program outcomes
- School District FSA (PDF)
- Charter School FSA (PDF)
Parent and Teacher Interviews- to determine how the school district or charter school involves parents and professionals in required processes, e.g. development of IEPs, and assess whether effective programs and training are being provided
- Parent Interview (PDF)
- General Education Teacher Interview (PDF)
- Special Education Teacher Interview (PDF)
Classroom Observations- to observe implementation of programs and services
- Classroom Observations (PDF)
Student, Parent and Teacher Surveys- to gather feedback from a broad number of respondents to inform the monitoring team and the school district or charter school about perceived strengths and improvement needs
- Parent Survey (PDF)
- Teacher Survey (PDF)
- Student Survey (PDF)
Administrative Interview- to provide the monitoring team with a general understanding of local program operations
- Administrative Interview (PDF)
File Reviews- to ensure compliance with requirements for evaluation, IEPs, placement, secondary transition and procedural safeguards
- Initial Evaluation Only File Review (PDF)
- Re-evaluation Only File Review (PDF)
- Re-evaluation Waiver Only File Review (PDF)
The monitoring document is reviewed and revised annually as needed.
Note that new charter schools open at various times during a six year monitoring cycle and may not have been monitored yet. Therefore, no reports are posted for those schools.
The documents posted on this website are the cover letter sent with the monitoring report to the superintendent or charter school chief executive officer, an Executive Summary that describes overall findings, and the Corrective Action Verification Plan (CAVP) that includes detailed findings by topical areas. When all corrective action is completed by the school district or charter school, the BSE issues a closure letter; if applicable, that letter is also posted here.
The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) has the responsibility to ensure that all Local Education Agencies (LEA) providing services, whether directly, or by contractual arrangements, administer special education services and programs that are in compliance with applicable state and federal laws and regulations.
In order to fulfill this responsibility, the Bureau of Special Education (BSE) has established administrative procedures for monitoring of program implementation, including evaluating the appropriateness, effectiveness and accountability of special education services and programs.
2023-2024 Cyclical Monitoring Schedule
IU | LEA | Week of Monitoring |
---|---|---|
1 | Fort Cherry School District | January 22, 2024 |
1 | Chartiers-Houston School District | February 5, 2024 |
1 | Charleroi School District | February 26, 2024 |
1 | Trinity Area School District | March 18, 2024 |
1 | Washington School District | April 8, 2024 |
1 | Peters Township School District | April 22, 2024 |
2 | Provident CS | January 15, 2024 |
2 | Catalyst Academy Charter School | February 5, 2024 |
3 | Propel Charter School - Braddock HIlls | October 30, 2023 |
3 | PA Distance Learning Charter School | November 13, 2023 |
3 | Moon Area School District | January 22, 2024 |
3 | Elizabeth Forward School District | February 19, 2024 |
3 | Propel Charter School - Homestead | February 26, 2024 |
3 | Gateway School District | March 11, 2024 |
3 | North Hills School District | March 18, 2024 |
3 | Young Scholars of McKeesport Charter School | March 25, 2024 |
3 | South Park School District | April 15, 2024 |
3 | Highlands School District | May 6, 2024 |
4 | West Middlesex Area School District | November 6, 2023 |
4 | Commodore Perry School District | November 13, 2023 |
4 | Seneca Valley School District | December 4, 2023 |
4 | Mars Area School District | March 18, 2024 |
5 | Fort Leboeuf School District | November 13, 2023 |
5 | Harbor Creek School District | December 11, 2023 |
5 | Perseus House Charter School of Excellence | January 8, 2024 |
5 | Robert Benjamin Wiley Community Charter School | February 12, 2024 |
5 | General Mclane School District | March 18, 2024 |
5 | Corry Area School District | April 15, 2024 |
6 | Brockway Area School District | April 8, 2024 |
6 | Titusville Area School District | May 13, 2024 |
7 | Adelphoi Ketterer Charter School | January 22, 2024 |
7 | Jeannette City School District | April 8, 2024 |
8 | Northern Bedford County School District | October 30, 2023 |
8 | Central Cambria School District | November 13, 2023 |
8 | Claysburg-Kimmel School District | December 4, 2023 |
8 | Spring Cove School District | April 1, 2024 |
8 | Altoona Area School District | April 15, 2024 |
8 | Westmont Hilltop School District | May 6, 2024 |
8 | Bellwood-Antis School District | May 20, 2024 |
9 | Ridgway Area School District | January 22, 2024 |
9 | Kane Area School District | March 25, 2024 |
10 | Nittany Valley Charter School | November 13, 2023 |
10 | Centre Learning Community Charter School | December 11, 2023 |
10 | Moshannon Valley School District | January 22, 2024 |
10 | Bellefonte Area School District | April 8, 2024 |
11 | New Day Charter School | Feburary 12, 2024 |
11 | Mifflin County School District | March 11, 2024 |
12 | Gettysburg Montessori Charter School | February 19, 2024 |
12 | Dallastown Area School District | April 8, 2024 |
12 | York City School District | May 20, 2024 |
13 | Lebanon School District | December 4, 2023 |
13 | Eastern Lebanon County School District | January 8, 2024 |
13 | Eastern Lancaster County School District | March 4, 2024 |
13 | Penn Manor School District | April 1, 2024 |
13 | Solanco School District | May 13, 2024 |
14 | Reading School District | January 29, 2024 |
14 | Schuylkill Valley School District | February 12, 2024 |
14 | Fleetwood Area School District | March 11, 2024 |
14 | Daniel Boone Area School District | April 8, 2024 |
15 | Infinity Charter School | November 13, 2023 |
15 | Sylvan Heights Science Charter School | December 11, 2023 |
15 | Steelton-Highspire School District | February 5, 2024 |
15 | Camp Hill School District | February 26, 2024 |
15 | Commonwealth Charter Academy Charter School | March 4, 2024 |
15 | Cumberland Valley School District | April 1, 2024 |
15 | Newport School District | April 8, 2024 |
15 | Reach Cyber Charter School | April 15, 2024 |
16 | Bloomsburg Area School District | October 30, 2023 |
16 | Southern Columbia Area School District | March 18, 2024 |
16 | Berwick Area School District | May 6, 2024 |
17 | Canton Area School District | November 6, 2023 |
17 | Athens Area School District | November 13, 2023 |
17 | Wyalusing Area School District | December 4, 2023 |
17 | Williamsport Area School District | December 11, 2023 |
17 | Troy Area School District | February 26, 2024 |
18 | Northwest Area School District | March 18, 2024 |
18 | Bear Creek Community Charter School | January 8, 2024 |
18 | Pittston Area School District | January 29, 2024 |
18 | Greater Nanticoke Area School District | February 26, 2024 |
18 | Crestwood School District | April 8, 2024 |
18 | Wilkes-Barre Area School District | April 8, 2024 |
19 | Lackawanna Trail School District | December 4, 2023 |
19 | Old Forge School District | May 6, 2024 |
20 | Lehigh Valley Charter School for Performing Arts | March 4, 2024 |
20 | Lehigh Valley Acad Regional Charter School | April 1, 2024 |
21 | Arts Academy Elementary Charter School | November 13, 2023 |
21 | Weatherly Area School District | December 18, 2023 |
21 | Innovative Arts Academy Charter School | January 22, 2024 |
21 | Panther Valley School District | May 6, 2024 |
22 | School Lane Charter School | December 11, 2023 |
22 | Quakertown Community School District | January 22, 2024 |
22 | New Hope-Solebury School District | February 12, 2024 |
22 | Center for Student Learning CS at Pennsbury | April 22, 2024 |
22 | Bensalem Township School District | May 13, 2024 |
23 | Upper Merion Area School District | November 20, 2023 |
23 | Pottsgrove School District | February 5, 2024 |
23 | Lower Moreland Township School District | April 8, 2024 |
23 | Abington School District | May 6, 2024 |
24 | Kennett Consolidated School District | April 1, 2024 |
24 | Phoenixville Area School District | April 15, 2024 |
25 | Vision Academy Charter School | January 22, 2024 |
25 | Garnet Valley School District | February 26, 2024 |
25 | Chichester School District | May 27, 2024 |
26 | Innovation Network | November 13, 2023 |
26 | Opportunity Network | November 13, 2023 |
26 | Maritime Academy Charter School | November 13, 2023 |
26 | TECH Freire Charter School | November 27, 2023 |
26 | West Oak Lane Charter School | January 8, 2024 |
26 | MaST Community Charter School II | January 15, 2024 |
26 | Neighborhood Network 3 | January 22, 2024 |
26 | Independence Charter School West | February 5, 2024 |
26 | KIPP Philadelphia Charter School | February 5, 2024 |
26 | Neighborhood Network 7 | February 26, 2024 |
26 | Mastery Charter School - John Wister Elementary | March 4, 2024 |
26 | Global Leadership Academy CS Southwest at Huey | March 11, 2024 |
26 | Imhotep Institute Charter High School | March 11, 2024 |
26 | Laboratory Charter School | April 1, 2024 |
27 | Freedom Area School District | December 11, 2023 |
27 | Rochester Area School District | March 11, 2024 |
27 | Blackhawk School District | May 6, 2024 |
28 | Homer-Center School District | March 18, 2024 |
29 | Tri-Valley School District | November 6, 2023 |
For additional information, please contact: ra-specedmonreports@pa.gov