PDE Notice from 08/30/2023

On August 30, 2023, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) announced a change to its interpretation of the law regarding the years in which students are eligible for special education.  Previously, eligibility for special education services from local school districts terminated at the end of the school year in which a student attained 21 years of age.  Under PDE’s new interpretation, students can remain in special education programming until the date of the student’s 22nd birthday.  This does not mean that students get to remain for an entire additional school year, but rather only until the date of the student’s 22nd birthday. 

Beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, students eligible for special education services will be allowed to remain enrolled until their 22nd birthday if necessary to achieve their transition objectives.  For students who turned 21 during the 2022-2023 school year and who have not yet turned 22 years old, should you wish to re-enroll your child at the Bucks County Technical High School to receive these additional months of service, please contact Pegeen Kopera Supervisor of Special Education at Pkopera@bcths.com.

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