House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

House of Representatives
Session of 2021 - 2022 Regular Session

Posted:	April 30, 2021 01:08 PM
From:	Representative Curtis G. Sonney
To:	All House members
Subject:	Allowing an Additional Year of School for students who are Aging out of Special Education

I plan to introduce legislation that will allow students who are aging out of special education the ability to opt-in to an additional year of educational support and services. Also, this legislation will allow school districts to utilize state and federal dollars to cover the cost of the additional year rather than limited local funds. The final years of school are integral for accessing and using transitional services into adulthood for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). These transition services enable students with disabilities the opportunity to gain independence through the learning of everyday tasks and access to skills and connections for securing and maintaining community integrated employment. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, transition services have been nearly non-existent for these students due to social distancing restrictions and lack of staff. Across Pennsylvania, there are approximately 1,600 -1,800 students with IDD who are aging out of school services at the end of the 2020-2021 school year. Allowing these students and families the option to access an additional year, will strengthen their transition to adulthood, more likely to result in employment, and less dependence on social services programs. I would appreciate your support of this critical piece of legislation.
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Introduced as HB1446