Required IEP Sections in Pennsylvania
What sections are required in an IEP in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania IEPs must satisfy both federal IDEA requirements under 34 CFR §300.320 and additional state-specific mandates in 22 Pa. Code §14.131. Beyond the standard federal components (present levels, measurable annual goals, special education and related services, supplementary aids and services, program modifications, accommodations, and participation in statewide assessments), Pennsylvania requires several distinctive elements. Each IEP must include a description of the type or types of support the student will receive, drawn from nine PA-defined categories: autistic support, blind/visually impaired support, deaf and hard of hearing support, emotional support, learning support, life skills support, multiple disabilities support, physical support, and speech and language support (22 Pa. Code §14.131(a)(1)). A support-type designation may not be based solely on the category of the child's disability. The IEP must document the types of personnel responsible for providing services per 22 Pa. Code §14.105 (22 Pa. Code §14.131(a)(3)) and must specify the school location where the student attends and whether that is the school the student would attend if the student did not have an IEP (22 Pa. Code §14.131(a)(4)). For students aged 14 or older, a transition plan with measurable postsecondary goals must be included (22 Pa. Code §14.131(a)(5)), two years earlier than the federal age-16 threshold. Pennsylvania also requires a Notice of Recommended Educational Placement/Prior Written Notice (NOREP/PWN) to accompany every IEP, which summarizes the LEA's recommendations and requires parental response within 10 calendar days (22 Pa. Code §14.131; 34 CFR §300.503). The IEP team must include the parent, at least one general education teacher (if the child participates in general education), at least one special education teacher, an LEA representative, and an individual who can interpret evaluation results (34 CFR §300.321). Pennsylvania requires that the IEP be implemented no later than 10 school days after its completion (22 Pa. Code §14.131(a)(6)). Before each IEP meeting, the school district must send an 'Invitation to Participate' form notifying the parent of the meeting date, time, location, and purpose and indicating who will attend (PaTTAN IEP form guidance). When the IEP team has finalized the IEP, the district issues a NOREP documenting the recommended educational placement and the parent has 10 calendar days to approve or disapprove. If the student's behavior impedes learning, the IEP team must consider positive behavioral interventions and supports, and if warranted, develop a positive behavior support plan based on a functional behavior assessment (22 Pa. Code §14.133).
What Pennsylvania Requires
IEP must include the type(s) of PA support from nine categories: autistic, blind/VI, deaf/HH, emotional, learning, life skills, multiple disabilities, physical, and speech/language support (22 Pa. Code §14.131(a)(1))
Support-type designation may not be based solely on disability category; students may receive more than one support type (22 Pa. Code §14.131(a)(1))
IEP must include supplementary aids and services as defined in 34 CFR §300.42 (22 Pa. Code §14.131(a)(2))
IEP must describe the personnel types providing services per 22 Pa. Code §14.105 (22 Pa. Code §14.131(a)(3))
IEP must document the school location and whether it is the school the student would attend without an IEP (22 Pa. Code §14.131(a)(4))
Transition plan required for students age 14 or older with measurable postsecondary goals — two years earlier than the federal age-16 threshold (22 Pa. Code §14.131(a)(5))
IEP must be implemented no later than 10 school days after its completion (22 Pa. Code §14.131(a)(6))
NOREP/PWN must accompany every IEP action, summarizing the LEA's recommendations; parents have 10 calendar days to approve or disapprove (34 CFR §300.503; 22 Pa. Code §14.131)
Before each IEP meeting the school must send an 'Invitation to Participate' form indicating the meeting date, time, location, purpose, and anticipated participants (PaTTAN IEP form guidance; 34 CFR §300.322(b))
IEP team must include parent, general education teacher, special education teacher, LEA representative, and evaluation interpreter (34 CFR §300.321)
Positive behavior support plan required when student behavior impedes learning, based on a functional behavior assessment (22 Pa. Code §14.133)
Key Timelines
IEP must be implemented no later than 10 school days after completion (22 Pa. Code §14.131(a)(6))
Parents have 10 calendar days to approve or disapprove the NOREP (PDE guidance; odr-pa.org)
IEP must be reviewed at least annually; any IEP team member may request a meeting at any time (34 CFR §300.324(b))
Reevaluation must occur at least every 3 years, or sooner if warranted (34 CFR §300.303)
Initial evaluation must be completed within 60 calendar days of parental consent (summer excluded) (22 Pa. Code §14.123(b))