Special Education

• PA Distance Learning provides a Special Education Program in accordance with current federal and state regulations and guidelines (Child Find). This program is Individualized to the unique needs of each child who has been diagnosed as needing Special Education services. We provide a multi-faceted education evaluation as needed for each student living with a disability. 

  • Please review the Special Education Services Pamphlet to determine what services may be available to your child.

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• Supplemental

  • The Supplemental Program is designed for students who need extra support in reading, writing, and math. Students are learning grade-level standards at an adapted pace and supports are individualized based on IEP team decisions. 

• Life Skills and Autistic 

  • The Life Skills and Autistic Support Program provides students with an individualized, structured, and engaging virtual environment. Instruction focuses on academic and functional skill development through small, flexible groups and individualized supports to build greater independence. Collaboration with related service providers ensures a comprehensive approach that meets each student’s unique needs. 

• Specially Designed Instruction (SDI)

  • Specially Designed Instruction is the adaptation of content, methodology or delivery of instruction to address the unique needs of the students that results from the student's disability, and to ensure access to the general education curriculum. Most SDIs are either considered an accommodation (changes to learning environment) or a modification (changes to content).

• Extended School Year (ESY)

  • Extended School Year is provided to qualifying students with disabilities beyond the 180 day school year. The main focus is working on making progress with the students current IEP goals.

• Section 504 Services

  • Section 504 Services are provided to students who have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits major life activities, such as caring for one's self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning and working. A basic evaluation to determine necessity from a doctor is required.

• GIFTED

  • The Gifted Program is designed for students who are identified as needing specially designed instruction not ordinarily provided in the regular education program. Students in the program will be provided opportunities for acceleration and enrichment.

When the child turns 14 (or younger if determined appropriate by the Individualized Educational Program (IEP) Team, and updated annually) their IEP will include appropriate measurable postsecondary goals and transition services needed to assist in reaching those goals. All students with IEPs must receive transition planning services as part of their IEP. Each year, the student and their IEP team identify what the student wants to do for employment, education/training, and independent living after High School. 

Benefits of Transition Planning

• • Helps determine what PATH a child will take after High School

  • Identifies what the student needs to be successful

  • Determines what agencies or services are needed

  • Provides opportunities and experiences based on student interest and need

Resources:

• Life After High School (Transition) Padlet (County-Wide Resources for Families)

• Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR)

• Planning for the Future Checklist

Related Services are offered to qualifying students who are in need of additional support in the following areas:

• Speech and Language (SLP)

  • Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) work to prevent, assess, diagnose, and treat speech, language, social communication, and cognitive-communication. 

• Occupational therapy (OT)

  • Occupational Therapists furnish support and provide interventions for students to engage in school activities and achieve independence within the school setting. These interventions include developing fine motor skills so they can grasp and release toys and develop good handwriting or typing and computer skills.

• Physical Therapy (PT)

  • Physical Therapy's primary objective is to maximize the child's gross motor skill level and quality of movement. Medically-based services are typically focused on a student's physical impairments and clinical deficits. Physical Therapy is provided at schools only when it is related to educational needs.

• Mental Health / Counseling

  • Mental Health/Counseling helps support students' mental, emotional, and social well being by addressing issues that may impact their academic performance and overall development, often through individual or group sessions, and including interventions related to academics, career planning, and social-emotional concerns, all delivered within the school environment. 

• Behavior Support (BSC)

  • A board certified behavior analyst is a healthcare professional who studies children's behavior and creates plans to improve and/or change problematic behaviors.

• Social Skills

  • A school psychologist or speech therapist may lead a social skills group. The therapist will work with students in the group setting on communication, problem solving, decision making, self management, and peer relationships.

• Learning Coach

  • A Learning Coach is an additional resource to help a student stay on track with their academic workload and homework assignments. They are not a substitute for a teacher or live class attendance.

• Vision

  • Vision therapy is designed to remedy problems that interfere with a child's ability to read, learn, or participate in educational activities. The goal is to develop visual skills and aid in efficiently processing information from the visual system.

• Audiology (Hearing)

  • Audiologists more than likely will be working with your student's Speech and Language Pathologist to improve communication success and hearing related quality of life. Often, the audiologist will screen and monitor the hearing issues a student experiences and communicate with the SLP to create and implement auditory training.

***Attendance Policy for ALL Related Services***

• • After three (3) NO Shows or Late Cancellations (less than 24 hour notice), Related Services will be placed on HOLD for two (2) weeks. After the hold period ends, if an additional three (3) sessions are missed, services will be removed from the students IEP. 

Special Education Parent Orientation

Monthly Parent Workshops (2025-2026):

• • September 17th-Understanding the IEP Process

  • October 15th-Related Services and Assistive Technology

  • November 19th-Life After High School (Transition)-Importance

  • December 17th-Functional Behavioral Assessments and Positive Behavior Supports

  • January 14th-Extended School Year (ESY)

  • February 18th-SDIs-What are they and how are they used in regular education?

  • March 18th-Understanding Goals and Progress Monitoring

  • April 22nd-Role of a Parent with State Assessments

  • May 27th-Summer Routines and Resources

Monthly Parent Workshops Slides & Recordings (2024-2025):

• • • FBA and PBSP (Slides / Recording)

    • Life After High School (Slides / Recording)

    • Related Services (Slides / Recording)

    • Specially Designed Instruction (Slides / Recording)

    • What is ESY? (Slides / Recording)

    • Understanding the Special Education Process (Slides / Recording)