The SPP, first submitted in 2005, and now expanded to 2018, is a multi-year plan to guide improvement in special education programs. It is built around federally mandated indicators of performance and compliance and includes baseline data and measurable and rigorous targets for each indicator. States must report data annually to OSEP on the state's performance in meeting the established targets. IDEA 2004 also requires states to report annually to the public on the performance of each LEA in the state on the targets in the SPP. Data reported in the SPP/APR are used by OSEP to determine the extent to which a state is complying with IDEA.
Beginning in 2015, all states were required to incorporate a State Systemic Improvement Plan (SSIP) into their SPP/APR. This new requirement is part of OSEP's implementation of a revised accountability system under the IDEA. The SSIP is a comprehensive, ambitious, multi-year plan for improving results for students with disabilities. The Bureau of Special Education collaborated with multiple stakeholders to select a focus for its SSIP. This focus area is called a State Identified Measurable Result (SIMR). Pennsylvania will be working to increase the graduation rate for students with disabilities as its SIMR. The SSIP is designated as an indicator within the SPP/APR. Therefore states must also report annually to OSEP and the public on their performance in meeting targets in the SSIP.
On June 21, 2024, the department was notified by OSEP that Pennsylvania meets the requirements and purposes of Part B of the IDEA. This determination is based on the totality of the State’s data and information, including the federal fiscal year (FFY) 2020 State Performance Plan/Annual Performance Report (SPP/APR), other State-reported data, and other publicly available information.
- State Performance Plan
- PA FFY 2022 State Performance Plan - Annual Performance Report (PDF)
- PA FFY 2021 State Performance Plan – Annual Performance Report (PDF)
- PA FFY 2020 State Performance Plan - Annual Performance Report (PDF)
- PA FFY 2019 State Performance Plan - Annual Performance Report (PDF)
- PA FFY 2018 State Performance Plan - Annual Performance Report (Word)
- PA FFY 2017 State Performance Plan - Annual Performance Report (PDF)
- PA FFY 2016 State Performance Plan - Annual Performance Report (PDF)
- PA FFY 2015 State Performance Plan - Annual Performance Report (PDF)
- PA FFY 2014 State Performance Plan - Annual Performance Report (PDF)
- PA FFY 2013 State Performance Plan - Annual Performance Report (PDF)
- IDEA State Systemic Improvement Plan
- Beginning with FFY 2019, this report appears as part of the State Performance Plan – Annual performance Reports that are posted in the above section.
- PA FFY 2018 IDEA State Systemic Improvement Plan - Phase III, Year 4 (PDF)
- PA FFY 2017 IDEA State Systemic Improvement Plan - Phase III - Year 3 (PDF)
- PA FFY 2016 IDEA State Systemic Improvement Plan - Phase III - Year 2 (PDF)
- PA FFY 2015 IDEA State Systemic Improvement Plan - Phase III (PDF)
- PA FFY 2014 IDEA State Systemic Improvement Plan - Phase II (PDF)
- PA FFY 2013 IDEA State Systemic Improvement Plan - Phase I (PDF)
- Beginning with FFY 2019, this report appears as part of the State Performance Plan – Annual performance Reports that are posted in the above section.