PA Community of Practice Secondary Transition Conference Highlights

The PA Community of Practice Secondary Transition Conference planning team includes young advocates who together consider how young people experience the conference. One highlight of this collaboration was a youth conference guide to help young people and families find the things that were for youth by youth. We also offered lots of space for young people to connect both during and after the conference.

Life Through My Lens, a session that focused on the stigmas of mental health and how those stigmas, through the lens of others, have caused damage to the self-esteem of youth. Many shared not only their experiences but ways they have conquered and overcome! The Power of Social Media, explained the positive ways social media can be used as a platform to advocate for change for disabilities seen and unseen. Youth enjoyed Family Feud and The Escape Room, which allowed for friendly competition, the practice of social interactions among peers, and gaining an understanding of the purpose of the agencies. The highlight of the conference was the no parents allowed 70’s theme silent disco - a judgment-free zone where youth can be youth!

New this year we celebrated the 7 youth recipients of the Katie Smith Leadership Award inspired by the beautiful life of the late Katie Smith, who was an advocate for youth and for individuals with disabilities. If you want to nominate a young person for next year's award follow the link below!

We extend a GIANT thank you to all of the youth who supported this successful conference!

Young adults

Optimistic about

Understanding their

Talent and

How they impact the world

Session Dates

Monday September 11, 2023 - PaTTAN - Special Ed Online Course
Sunday October 08, 2023 - PaTTAN - Special Ed Online Course

The Special Education: Effective Practices for my General Education Classroom is a fifteen (15) hour interactive online course where K-12 teachers and administrators have the opportunity to review information regarding special education and apply the information to their general education classrooms. An instructor is available to guide participants through this four part, virtual learning process. Participants provide support and feedback to each other through the chat room, and are able to post questions and assignments on the bulletin board.

Objectives

• Identify three factors that general education teachers must know and be able to do when educating all students, including students with disabilities.
• Describe the evaluation and IEP process and demonstrate how to be effective team members.
• Examine different ways to implement IEPs of students with disabilities in general education classrooms.
• Determine effective practices and concepts of their curriculum in relation to Standards-Based Curriculum for all students.

Target Audience:

General Educators and Administrators

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Participants will learn how to create and design a system to support the implementation of positive classroom support plans and the development of a multi-tiered system of support for staff. Reflection on the current school system, identification of needs, and data scenarios will be used to support the design of a comprehensive system of teacher support.

Participants will:

• Utilize data to develop a plan for professional development.
• Utilize a rubric to provide timely and specific feedback.
• Identify tools and strategies to support implementation of positive classroom behavior support plans.

Target Audience:

Administrators, superintendents, school psychologists, special education directors, school counselors

Dates/Locations:

09/13/2023

Location: PaTTAN - CENTRAL

09/13/2023

Location: PaTTAN - EAST

09/13/2023

Location: PaTTAN - WEST

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Thursday, September 14th, 2023 9:00-11:00 a.m. Online

In response to the accountability requirements under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 2004 (IDEA) Part B State Performance Plan, a focus is the development of compliant and individualized secondary transition programming for students with disabilities.

During this webinar, local education agencies (LEAs) will learn of the requirements for completing the "Preparing for Cyclical Monitoring: A Focus on Secondary Transition Planning and IEP Development" online course. The presenters will discuss how to organize staff to complete the seven modules that focus on the steps in the transition planning process as they relate to the Indicator 13 requirements in the Cyclical Monitoring for Continuous Improvement (CMCI). In addition to the supports within the course, a discussion regarding the sustained professional development available via PaTTAN and Intermediate Units to identified local educational agencies (LEAs) based on IEP pre-reviews using the Pennsylvania Indicator 13 checklist and/or identified coaching needs will also take place.

Target Audience

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This session will provide participants with an understanding of the Pennsylvania Post School Outcome Survey (PaPOS) and the requirements for implementation. The purpose of PaPOS is to determine, for the state as a whole, the extent to which students are achieving transition outcomes as stated in their Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). This is a required training for LEAs identified on the Penn*Link (attached).

LEARN MORE AND REGISTER HERE

Are you looking to learn more information about transition?

Check out their Training Resource Library.

If you're new to transition, be sure to check out Transition 101!