The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare (DPW), is working on its State Performance Plan/Annual Performance Report.  The State Performance Plan/Annual Performance Report will describe how the Commonwealth will improve educational outcomes for students with disabilities, ages birth-21, and comply with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). States must submit their new State Performance Plan/Annual Performance Report to the United States Department of Education by Feb. 1, 2015, and it must include a description of targets and strategies to guide improvement through federal fiscal year 2018.

The State Performance Plan/Annual Performance Report is built upon federally mandated indicators of compliance and performance. Each indicator includes baseline data, annual measurable and rigorous targets, and improvement activities.  It is being developed with significant input from the Pennsylvania Special Education Advisory Panel, the State Interagency Coordinating Council for Early Intervention, and other stakeholders. PDE and DPW are requesting stakeholders’ input on targets and improvement activities for the following indicators:

School-Age Indicators

Indicator 2                     Dropout Rates

Indicator 3B                   Participation in Statewide Assessment

Indicator 4A                   Suspension and Expulsion Rates

Indicator 5                     Educational Placement (Least Restrictive Environment, or LRE)

Indicator 8                     School Facilitated Parent Involvement

Indicator 14                   Postsecondary Employment and/or Education

Indicator 15                   Due Process Resolution Session Agreements

Indicator 16                   Mediation Agreements

Indicator 17                   State Systemic Improvement Plan

Persons interested in submitting comments in writing will be able to do so by visiting the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network’s website at www.pattan.net through Sept. 19, 2014.

Questions regarding the State Performance Plan/Annual Performance Report may be addressed to Sandy Zeleznik, Special Education Adviser, at szeleznik@pa.gov.