Federal IDEA Changes
Please see the link for recent notification to your child’s school regarding a Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) policy change that may impact you or your child. Under the new policy, students who are eligible under federal IDEA may access a Free and Appropriate Public Education until their 22nd
birthday. This means if a student would have traditionally exited from high school during or after the school term in which they turned 21 years of age, they now may remain in school until their 22nd birthday. This includes students who exited during or after the 2022-2023 school term.
birthday. This means if a student would have traditionally exited from high school during or after the school term in which they turned 21 years of age, they now may remain in school until their 22nd birthday. This includes students who exited during or after the 2022-2023 school term.
If your child meets this criteria and would like to return to your school district and access educational services until their 22nd birthday, you will need to re-enroll in your resident school district. To re-enroll your student, you should contact the school that the student will attend in the 2023-2024 school term as soon as possible and request re-enrollment. It may be helpful to provide the school with a copy of this letter.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your school district. If you require additional assistance from PDE, please send your request to RA-PDESPECIALED@pa.gov.