A huge shoutout to our incredible nursing team at Achieva! 🎉 Carol Miller, Colleen Mosser, Karen Kacprzyk, and Richard Schubert, your dedication to Achieva and the people we support shines through every single day. Thank you for your tireless work, your compassionate care, and your unwavering commitment. We are so grateful for each and every one of you! ❤️ #Achieva #Nurses #HealthcareHeroes #ThankYou #Dedication (fb)

Should children be able to graduate on their 22nd Birthday or when the school year ends and they are 21? Your chance to weigh in is running out. Written comments due by May 16th. Sample letter below (redraft or write your own). Comments should be directed to Timothy Krushinski or Sam Pudloski, Special Education Advisers, Bureau of Special Education, Department of Education, 607 South Drive, 3rd Floor-East Wing, Harrisburg, PA 17120, tikrushins@pa.gov, spudloski@pa.gov [Date] To: Dr. Carrie Rowe, Acting Secretary Cc: Timothy Krushinski and Sam Pudloski, Special Education Advisers, Bureau of Special Education, Department of Education, 607 South Drive, 3rd Floor-East Wing, Harrisburg, PA 17120 tikrushins@pa.gov spudloski@pa.gov Dear Dr. Rowe, My name is [xxxx]. I am the parent of a [xx] year old child with a disability. My child receives/received special education services as a student with [intellectual/ developmental disabilities/learning differences/behavioral health diagnoses, etc] and who are protected under [Title II of the ADA, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)]. I am writing to express my support for the revision to the State Plan and Model Local Education Agency (LEA) Policies and Procedures with regards to age of eligibility for special education services, which will extend a Free and Appropriate Education (FAPE) to students with disabilities until their 22nd birthday, rather than ending services at the conclusion of the school term in which they turn 21. As stated in the proposal, this revision aligns with federal and state laws: 34 CFR § 300.102(a)(2) and 22 Pa. Code § 14.102(a)(2) (x). Federal law states that services for Part B should be provided to students ages 3-21 years, inclusive. Students, their families and other members of the IEP team, should be able to opt to agree on whether to have the student continue to receive transition services based on the IEP transition plan. It is essential to have an adequate bridge from school to adult life. Currently, students who are transitioning from school-age to adult systems, and their IEP teams, experience challenges setting up the necessary adult services, without which young adults are at a greater risk of “graduating to the couch”. By having the right to maintain special education services inclusive of the student’s 21st year, the team is afforded more time and flexibility to have the funding, providers, and staff in place to ensure post-secondary training and education, employment, and the home and community-based services necessary for adulthood. IDEA and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act provide tailored services to ensure transition. Despite that and state efforts, many school districts do not provide comprehensive support for transition. Students still leave high school without home and community-based waiver support(s) and other critical services in place. Staying in school until a person's 22nd birthday is critical for some students with disabilities and ensures that Pennsylvania is following federal IDEA law that states, “All children with disabilities receiving special education or related services under IDEA between the ages of 3 and 21, inclusive, residing in a state are entitled to FAPE”. I look forward to further supporting the PA Department of Education to ensure that students with disabilities can continue to receive special education services until their 22 nd birthday. [Name] [Address] [Email] (fb)