HARRISBURG – Secretary of Education Pedro A. Rivera recently announced that 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.
“I am pleased to announce that Pennsylvania has once again been awarded the distinction of compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act,” Rivera said. “In a time when we are focused so closely on student success and educational equity, we must remember that students come in all shapes and sizes with a number of skills, talents and abilities. I am proud that the commonwealth is being recognized for its efforts to provide equal opportunities to all students, no matter their age, zip code or ability.”
As the nation’s special education law, IDEA provides services to more than 6 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.
To determine the state’s performance, USDE conducted a detailed examination ofPennsylvania’s compliance with the law and considered the 2013-2014 data on achievements by students with disabilities. In making its determination, 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 just 19 states – and the only state among the seven largest states in the nation – to receive this distinction in 2015.
