Delaware County Right to Education Local Task Force

07/09/2025

Did you know that each of Pennsylvania’s 29 Intermediate Units (IUs) has a Local Task Force (LTF) on the Right to Education? These parent-led groups partner with IU staff, school personnel, and community members to ensure that students with disabilities receive a free and appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment.

✅ Why Get Involved?
Local Task Forces empower families to:
• Advocate for inclusive education
• Understand special education rights
• Connect with other families and leaders
• Influence local and statewide education practices

📍 Happening This Week in Gettysburg!
The Local Task Force Capacity Building Institute is bringing together families, educators, and advocates from across Pennsylvania to build leadership, deepen collaboration, and strengthen advocacy for students with disabilities.

💬 PEAL is proud to be part of it! Today, Jane and Cindy are standing on Little Round Top, where they’re participating in a leadership activity that encourages new perspectives and stronger connections.

🧡 Want to get involved with your Local Task Force?
We’ll help you connect! Visit https://www.pealcenter.org/education-rights to find your LTF and join today.

06/20/2025

06/20/2025

We need to see more of this in Delco! Let's make sure we support Bean Ability!!

Bean Ability Café in Drexel Hill offers more than just coffee—it creates a space for people with disabilities to build skills and confidence in a supportive environment. Click here to read 👉 https://delco.today/2025/06/bean-ability-cafe-drexel-hill-disabilities/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook =1750337572

05/21/2025

Congratulations to our 2025 Making A Difference Award winners! 👏👏

The Delaware County Right to Education Local Task Force will host its 13th Annual Making A Difference Awards on Thursday, May 29 from 6–8 p.m. at Penncrest High School.

This special evening recognizes individuals who go above and beyond to promote inclusion and support all students. Each year, the awards recognize:

✅ Students who have persevered and overcome challenges to succeed in an inclusive setting
✅ Students who demonstrate exceptional support, friendship, and acceptance to ensure the inclusion of classmates of all abilities
✅ Adults who go above and beyond to promote acceptance and understanding so that every child feels included and supported

This year's winners from Penn-Delco School District are:
🏅 Ms. Emily Phillips (Teacher; 3rd Grade; Pennell)
🏅 Jack Abate (Student; 10th Grade; Sun Valley)
🏅 Chloe Crego (Student; 12th Grade; Sun Valley)
🏅 Elena DeMarco (Student; 5th-Grade; Aston)
🏅 Quinn Walters (Student; 5th-Grade; Parkside)

This year, we received 19 nominations - a true testament to the amazing work happening throughout Penn-Delco to create inclusive environments. 💙

05/03/2025

Host of 13th Annual Making A Difference Awards, Leon Smith, PA Teacher of the Year, will be featured on the NBC Today Show as part of Teacher Appreciation Week!

The Making A Difference Awards will be held on May 29, 2025 in the Rose Tree Media School District! Winners are being notified as we speak! We hope to see you there!!

Tune in Monday, May 5th, during the 8:00 hour of TODAY

We’re excited to share that one of our very own Haverford High School teachers, Leon Smith, PA Teacher of the Year, will be featured on the NBC Today Show as part of Teacher Appreciation Week! Tune in to watch this special interview with host Craig Melvin, celebrating the incredible impact our educators make every day. Don’t miss this proud moment for our school community—airing Monday, May 5th on NBC’s Today Show!

04/28/2025

Medicaid is under threat, and millions of Pennsylvanians could lose the care they rely on. Now is the time to rise up together to protect Medicaid! Visit caring.nu/protect-medicaid-2025 for more resources.

04/24/2025

We are grateful for the work of the Education Law Center! Contact information below!

ELC provides information, referrals, legal advice, and advocacy to families, youth, caseworkers, attorneys, judges, community members, etc. statewide through its Helpline. We provide this service free of charge.

To request legal help, please fill out the online request form, available in English o en español.

If needed, you can call our Helpline at 267-436-6095 (Eastern and Central PA), 412-258-2120 (Western PA).

https://buff.ly/oe67XNL

04/24/2025

We absolutely adore Nora Connell. She provides such fantastic support to the Local Task Force. We love to see her acknowledged in this way along with Shannon Murphy. Well done!!

Celebrating Excellence in Teaching! 🎉

Congratulations to DCIU’s Nora Connell and Shannon Murphy for being honored by the Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union (FMFCU) Foundation for their outstanding dedication to education. 🌟 FMFCU annually recognizes the passion and dedication of 20 educators in the Philadelphia area through their Excellence in Teaching celebration.

The DCIU is proud to have a community of educators dedicated to enriching the lives of students. Your impact shapes the future—one student at a time! 📚🍎

04/21/2025

The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) is in the process of revising their state plan as a part of the application process for Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) funding. Part of the grant addresses the age at which a student leaves the school district. In compliance with state and federal law, PDE advocates that students should stay until the day before their 22nd birthday. And now you have an opportunity to share your thoughts, concerns and experiences as to how this would benefit your child.
The PA Department of Education is accepting written public comment until May 16, 2025. The written 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.
Public comments are also welcomed in alternative formats such as Braille, recorded comments and telephone comments for individuals with disabilities. Individuals with a disability who wish to submit comments by telephone should contact Aaron Ioos, (717) 772-3500, aioos@pa.gov.
Additionally, the Department will provide individuals wishing to present verbal testimony an opportunity to do so. One written copy of verbal testimony prior to the time of presentation would be appreciated. Presentations should be limited to 15 minutes.
Verbal testimony must be provided virtually on April 30, 2025, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
To schedule an opportunity to present verbal testimony, or for persons with a disability who require an accommodation to participate in the proceedings, contact Aaron Ioos at (717) 772-3500, aioos@pa.gov. Individuals will be provided with a link to participate.
If you have questions or need help submitting your testimony, you can contact the PEAL Center at info@pealcenter.org

04/21/2025

The 13th Annual Making A Difference Awards are scheduled for May 29, 2025! We are very excited! Looking forward to sharing additional information in the days to come!

Save the date!