2026-2027 Special Education Compliance Monitoring Schedule

The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) has the responsibility to ensure that all local educational agencies (LEAs) providing services, whether directly or by contractual arrangements, administer special education services and programs that are compliant with applicable state and federal laws and regulations. To fulfill this responsibility, PDE has established administrative procedures for monitoring program implementation, including evaluating the appropriateness, effectiveness, and accountability of special education services and programs.

PDE has developed the schedule for compliance monitoring for the 2026-27 school year in which 129 school districts and charter schools of varying size across the Commonwealth will be monitored. The list of selected LEAs is included at the end of this Bulletin. Additional monitoring reviews, if deemed appropriate, may be designated as the school year progresses.

For the 2026-27 school year, the Cyclical Monitoring for Continuous Improvement (CMCI) process includes a combination of virtual and onsite components. Verification activities include digital and onsite reviews of student documents; studies of service delivery; and analysis of policies, procedures, and outcomes. This CMCI process will include:

Training for this monitoring process is designed as a series of web-based training modules. These modules will be available on the PaTTAN website via Schoology in late July. Relevant LEA personnel must complete the training and report date of completion to the chairperson by September 14, 2026.

These training modules review the current monitoring process; Facilitated Self-Assessment submission; documents to be submitted; managing web-based documentation; and provide additional resources to assist LEA personnel prepare for the monitoring process. District superintendents, charter school chief executive officers, special education directors, and additional appropriate personnel at LEAs who will be monitored benefit from completing these training modules to familiarize themselves with the monitoring process.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation in complying with this federally mandated requirement. PDE recognizes the time and effort required by each LEA to successfully participate in these monitorings. The Chairperson assigned to each monitoring will contact the LEA for follow-up. Should you have any questions regarding the 2026-27 monitoring schedule included below, please contact Kelli Franklin at kfranklin@pa.gov.

SPECIAL EDUCATION CYCLICAL COMPLIANCE MONITORING SCHEDULE School Districts and Charter Schools to be Monitored in 2026-2027