Pennsylvania Honored for Performance under National Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

HARRISBURG, Pa., July 18, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Secretary of Education Pedro A. Rivera today announced the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) has recognized Pennsylvania for its compliance and performance under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Part B. The commonwealth has received this designation for nine of the ten years compliance has been determined by the federal government.

"I am proud of the work Pennsylvania is doing to ensure that all students have access to resources and services that provide them a high-quality education, no matter their unique needs," said Sec. Rivera. "I applaud the educators, administrators, family, and community members who support students with disabilities, as your encouragement plays a significant role in ensuring future success."

This year's determination was aligned with USDE's new Results Driven Accountability plan and considered both states' compliance with IDEA as well as student outcomes. To determine the state's performance, USDE considered the State Performance Plan/Annual Performance Report (SPP/APR) and other state-reported data, student participation on regular statewide assessments, participation and performance on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, dropout rates, and graduation with a regular high school diploma.

Pennsylvania is one of 26 states and territories to receive this distinction in 2016. Further, the commonwealth has met more requirements than the seven largest states in the nation – New York (0 of 10), Texas (0 of 10), Illinois (1 of 10), Ohio (3 of 10), California (3 of 10), and Florida (5 of 10) – from 2006 to 2016. Of those states, only Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Florida met IDEA requirements this year.

As the nation's special education law, IDEA provides services to more than six million children ages three to 21 with disabilities across the United States. Meeting the requirements of the Act is the highest honor that states can achieve in the annual federal determinations process.

MEDIA CONTACT: Nicole Reigelman, 717-783-9802

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Education

Related Links

http://www.state.pa.us