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Equitable Participation

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In Pennsylvania, the Intermediate Units are the agencies responsible for the implementation of the federal requirement for Equitable Participation (EP).

 
The Act provides, that, in calculating the proportionate amount of Federal funds under Part B of the Act that must be spent on parentally-placed private school children with disabilities, the LEAs (IUs in Pennsylvania) where the private schools are located, must conduct a thorough and complete child find process to determine the number of parentally-placed children with disabilities attending private elementary schools and secondary schools located in the LEAs (IUs in Pennsylvania). In addition, after timely and meaningful consultation with representatives of private elementary schools and secondary schools and representatives of parents of parentally-placed private school children with disabilities, there is an obligation of the LEA (IU) to spend a proportionate amount of funds to provide services to children with disabilities enrolled by their parents in private school. The amount of funds available for EP is now based on the total number of children with disabilities who are enrolled in the private schools located in the LEA (IU) whether or not the children and their parents reside in the LEA (IU).
 
For more information about Equitable Participation, click here to visit the Pennsylvania Department of Education's website.