Announcements

May 1, 2025

Smell those May flowers, the end of the school year is almost here! Here are the top 4 things you need to know about AEDY this month:

1. End of Year Reporting

End of year reporting is DUE by June 30, 2025. End of year reporting is required for all Sending LEAs and In-House AEDY Programs, including those who did not seat any students during the 2024-2025 school year. More information is available here on the website.

Have questions? Join us for the End of Year Reporting Office Hour on May 14, 10 am. Pop in, ask your questions, and head out when ready! Register here.

2. Applications for Sending LEAs and In-House AEDY Programs

All applications for Sending LEAs and In-House AEDY Programs will expire on June 30, 2025. Application renewals are open now! Read more about application requirements and steps to complete here.  

3. MTSS Survey - Action Item for All AEDY Programs

We are gathering information regarding MTSS training and support needs for the 2025-2026 school year. Please take a moment to complete the brief survey here by April 17, 2025. If you have any questions, feel free to email your AEDY point of contact or bsidella@pattan.net.

4. Share your Successes!

Share your success stories from this school year! This could be a celebration of a specific student's success in the program, something that went well with staff, or even a procedural change that made a difference! Success stories may be shared out during AEDY trainings next school year - please be sure to note if you would prefer your program remain anonymous and always remove any personally identifiable student information. Fill out the form here to share your success!

April 1, 2025

It's April 1st, but this email is no joke! Here are the top 4 things you need to know about AEDY this month:

1. Upcoming Trainings

(Community of Practice | April 3, 10am) In our final Community of Practice for the year, we will review referral scenarios together and briefly discuss training needs for the 2025-26 school year. Register here! [Link expired].

(End of Year Reporting Office Hour | May 14, 10am) The End of Year Reporting window is right around the corner! Once the window opens, the webpages will appear on the AEDY website with video and text information. An open office hour will be presented by PDE as an opportunity to pop in, ask your questions, and head out when ready! Registration coming soon!

2. Applications for Sending LEAs and In-House AEDY Programs

All applications for Sending LEAs and In-House AEDY Programs will expire on June 30, 2025. Application renewals are expected to open mid-April. Read more about application requirements and steps to complete here.  

3. MTSS Survey - Action Item for All AEDY Programs

We are gathering information regarding MTSS training and support needs for the 2025-2026 school year. Please take a moment to complete the brief survey here [link expired] by April 17, 2025. If you have any questions, feel free to email your AEDY point of contact or bsidella@pattan.net.

4. Reminder for All AEDY Programs

Please be reminded that clearances in AEDY Program applications continually expire. It is the responsibility of the administrator who maintains the application to ensure all staff have valid/current up-to-date clearances, mandated reporter, and behavior management training dates in the application. See the Staffing section of the applications module for more information.

March 3, 2025

March is coming in like a lion 🦁! Here are the top 3 things you need to know about AEDY this month:

1. Upcoming: Applications for Sending LEAs and In-House AEDY Programs

All applications for Sending LEAs and In-House AEDY Programs will expire on June 30, 2025. Additional information on application renewals is forthcoming. Read more about application requirements and steps to complete here.

2. Coming Up

(AEDY Community of Practice | April 3, 10am) This year, our AEDY Communities of Practice will use breakout rooms for participants to discuss challenges and share success stories from their AEDY Programs and LEAs. Participants will have the opportunity to select one of four topics during each session. Highlights and notes from each room will be shared at the end of each meeting. Register here! [Link expired].

(Meeting Students’ Social-Emotional Learning Needs Through Compassion and Research-Based Practices | BSE | March 5, 6pm) During this session, participants will explore the principles of cultural care, a social-emotional approach to forming positive relationships and promoting critical consciousness, and its vital role in promoting social-emotional competencies for career readiness. Participants will explore evidence-based strategies that honor their students' diverse backgrounds and experiences. The session will provide practical tools and social emotional learning resources that help meet the unique needs of all students and fosters a sense of belonging. Register here! [Link expired].

(ELD Office Hours | PDE | March 11, 9:30am) PDE's English Language Development Office Hours is an open forum for educators across the Commonwealth to engage in Q&A with PDE staff, content experts, and ELD colleagues across the state. All educators in PA LEAs are encouraged to attend, including ESL Specialists, PreK-12 content teachers, building and district level administrators, paraprofessionals, specialists, and Intermediate Unit personnel. Register here! [Link expired].

3. *NEW* Leader Services Feature: The Pause Button (LEAs only)

A new feature has been added to Leader Services! The Pause Button allows the Sending LEA to temporarily "stop the clock" on an AEDY placement, then resume the count once the student returns to AEDY. This is appropriate for short-term removals from AEDY to another placement such as mental health. More information is available here as a one-pager. Updates to the Student Referrals module on the AEDY Website are pending.

February 3, 2025

Welcome to February! Here are the top 4 for AEDY to keep you warm this month:

1. Stakeholder Feedback Survey (for ALL!)

We want your feedback! Please take 10-15 minutes to complete the 2025 AEDY Stakeholder Feedback Survey here [Link expired] and forward this email to other staff involved with AEDY for their feedback as well! Your responses will shape the training and technical assistance offered for the 2025-2026 school year.

2. FREE Mental Heath Professional Development for Staff

AEDY Programs serve some of the most at-risk students and recent research has shown that individuals facing discipline or removal from a setting are at greater risk for suicide. These resources assembled by PDE, designed to equip educators with the knowledge and skills to recognize and respond to signs of suicidal ideation, align with the unique challenges AEDY programs face in serving students with significant behavioral and emotional difficulties. 

By incorporating this professional development, AEDY staff can foster a safer, more supportive learning environment, improve capacity for early intervention, and help reduce the risk of suicide among a vulnerable population, ultimately contributing to both the well-being and academic success of their students.

3. *NEW* Leader Services Feature: The Pause Button (LEAs only)

A new feature has been added to Leader Services! The Pause Button allows the Sending LEA to temporarily "stop the clock" on an AEDY placement, then resume the count once the student returns to AEDY. This is appropriate for short-term removals from AEDY to another placement such as mental health. More information is available here as a one-pager. Updates to the Student Referrals module on the AEDY Website are pending.

4. Adding Extra School Days to the Calendar (Programs only)

If your AEDY program's calendar needs to add a few extra days to the end of the school year to account for the winter weather, it must be completed manually be Leader Services. Send an email to your AEDY team point of contact with the date for the new last day of school to get started. Not sure of your point of contact? Send an email to aedy@pattan.net.

January 6, 2025

Welcome to 2025 🎉! Here are the top 4 things for AEDY this month:

1. Stakeholder Feedback Survey

We want your feedback! Please take 10-15 minutes to complete the 2025 AEDY Stakeholder Feedback Survey here [Link expired] and forward this email to other staff involved with AEDY for their feedback as well! Your responses will shape the training and technical assistance offered for the 2025-2026 school year.

2. AEDY Referrals Trainings with two *new* Leader Features

A full review of the AEDY Referrals system in Leader Services/IMS from creation to closure! Appropriate for both Sending LEAs and AEDY Programs. Both sessions will include information about the *new* features of the Under Eval button and the Pause Referral button. Please note the content is the same for both sessions. 

Select the dates and times below for more information and to register.

• Referrals Training: January 14, 2025, 10am - 11:30am [link expired]

• Referrals Training: January 16, 2025, 1:30pm - 3pm [link expired]

3. Application Expiration Reminder

All Sending LEA and In-House AEDY Program applications will expire on June 30, 2025. The application renewal process will begin this spring. Existing applications will be duplicated for the renewal process, so now is a good time to review your staffing sections for accuracy. *Be sure to check for expired clearances for all staff!* Learn more about applications here on our website.

4. Upcoming Training Opportunities

(AEDY Community of Practice - Feb. 20, 10am - 11am) This year, our AEDY Communities of Practice will use breakout rooms for participants to discuss challenges and share success stories from their AEDY Programs and LEAs. Participants will have the opportunity to select one of four topics during each session. Register here! [Link expired].

(Goal Writing Training - Feb. 25, 10am - 11:30am) Come with your goal writing team and continue developing your skills for writing student goals! This training will walk your team through guiding questions, tips, and considerations for writing behavioral goals for students seated in AEDY. Register here! [Link expired].

December 2, 2024

Happy holidays from the AEDY team! Here are the top 3 things for AEDY this month:

1. December Community of Practice

Join us for the December session of our AEDY Community of Practice this Thursday at 10am. This year, our CoP features breakout rooms for participants to discuss challenges and share success stories from their AEDY Programs and LEAs. Be sure to register so you can pre-select your breakout room! Sign up here! [link expired]

2. Winter Referrals & Goal Writing Training Sessions

Coming up after the break are two sessions with a full review of the AEDY Referrals system in Leader Services/IMS (the content is the same for both sessions) AND a session on goal writing to attend with your goal writing team. Select the dates and times below for more information and to register.

• Referrals Training: January 14, 2025, 10am - 11:30am [link expired]

• Referrals Training: January 16, 2025, 1:30pm - 3pm [link expired]

• Goal Writing Training: February 25, 2025, 10am - 11:30am

Please note that the date of the February goals training has been changed!

3. Resource Reminder: The Student-Led Formal Periodic Review

Looking for advice on getting students more involved in the Formal Periodic Review process? The Student-Led Formal Periodic Review is a recorded webinar featuring the Bangor Area School District's In-House AEDY Program and includes all the information and resources you need to get started! 

Also check out The Formal Periodic Review for Students, created by the AEDY team and aimed towards students directly.

November 4, 2024

Thanksgiving is right around the corner! 🦃 Here are the top 3 things for AEDY this month:

1. Nov. 6: Navigating Trauma: Brain/Body Pathways to Foster Emotionally Regulated and Resilient Students

Register here [link expired] and remember to forward to your teachers and counselors!

Wednesday from 12pm-1:30pm, Maggie Kline, M.S., LMFT, SEP, and author of Brain-Changing Strategies to Trauma-Proof our Schools presents this training which demonstrates the difference in brain functioning between traumatized and non-traumatized individuals when a trigger causes the perception of threat (whether real or not). It focuses on a two pathway Road Resilience Model that includes the "Eight Essentials" that foster secure relationships that help students feel safe and daily practices that foster interoceptive intelligence to increase emotional regulation, focus, and empathy. *Act 48 Credit is available!

Prepare for this session by first watching ACEs in Schools here (audio descriptive version available here).

2. *NEW* Under Eval Buttons in Student Referrals

As of October 11, 2024, this new feature is available for all student referrals and *must* be answered for new referrals prior to submission to the AEDY program. Access a one page pdf here which reviews how to use this new feature.

Need more support for student referrals? Register for student referrals trainings coming up after the holidays:

• January 14, 2025, 10am - 11:30am [link expired]

• January 16, 2024, 1:30pm - 3pm [link expired]

3. Making Content Accessible Part 1: Color | Popup Practices Season 3

Did you know that all public schools and their contractors must meet accessibility guidelines for all web content (webpages, documents, slide decks, images, videos, social media, etc.) by April 2026 for large populations and April 2027 for smaller populations? Get started with revisions today!

October 2, 2024

My how the time flies - it's already October! Here are the top 3 things for AEDY this month:

1. Document Check-In: Are you using the latest version? 

In the last 5 years, the PaTTAN Team has produced quite a few documents to support the field. Be sure you are using the latest version by checking against the versions below. Each current version is linked for your convenience:

• Formal Periodic Review Template (6.14.2023)

• Sample Formal Periodic Review Procedure (3.20.2024)

• English Learner - Individual Language Learning Plan (EL-ILLP) Template (Aug. 2022)

• Sample AEDY Program Student Referral Intake Checklist (March 2024)

• AEDY Parent Brochure - English and Spanish (Nov. 2021)

• Sample Sending LEA AEDY Referral Procedure (5.23.2023)

2. Coming Up 📆

(AEDY Community of Practice) This year, our AEDY Communities of Practice will use breakout rooms for participants to discuss challenges and share success stories from their AEDY Programs and LEAs. Participants will have the opportunity to select one of four topics during each session. Highlights and notes from each room will be shared at the end of each meeting. Register here for the session on October 17, 2024, 10am - 11am

(Navigating Trauma: Brain/Body Pathways to Foster Emotionally Regulated and Resilient Students) This training demonstrates the difference in brain functioning between traumatized and non-traumatized individuals when a trigger causes the perception of threat (whether real or not). It focuses on a two pathway Road Resilience Model that includes the "Eight Essentials" that foster secure relationships that help students feel safe and daily practices that foster interoceptive intelligence to increase emotional regulation, focus, and empathy. Register here for the session on November 6, 2024, 1pm - 1:30pm. Act 48 credit is available!

For a full calendar of events relevant to the AEDY field, check out the AEDY Calendar.

3. Resource Reminder: The Formal Periodic Review ❗

*NEW* Summer 2024 - The Formal Periodic Review module is a series of 4 short videos from different lenses: AEDY Programs, Sending LEAs, Families, and Students. Each video looks at what the Formal Periodic Review (FPR) is and what responsibilities each role plays in the meetings. Get started here on our website!

Note: this series replaces the module A Comprehensive Look at the Formal Periodic Review, which has been retired. 

September 3, 2024

Welcome back! As you get into the swing of the new school year, here are the top 3 things for AEDY!

1. Welcome New AEDY Programs! 🏫

New, approved AEDY programs have been opening state wide during the last school year and over the summer, here's all the sites that were approved since the last emailed update:

• Beacon Light Behavioral Health Systems - Bradford, PA

• Coatesville Choices Academy - Exton, PA

• Connections at Chester-Upland - Chester, PA

• Nittany Learning Services - Northumberland County Program - Pleasant Gap, PA

• Parkland SD In-House Program - Allentown, PA 

• River Rock Academy - Bradford County - Canton, PA 

• River Rock Academy - Cressona Campus - Cressona, PA

• River Rock Academy - Williamsport Campus - Williamsport, PA 

• Southeast Delco SD In-House Program - Collingdale, PA

• West Branch Area SD In-House Program - Morrisdale, PA

Thinking about opening an AEDY Program? Here are 5 Things to Consider and step-by-step guides to Applications with resources! View the full map of AEDY programs.

2. Coming Up 📆

(Student Referrals Trainings) A full review of the AEDY Referrals system in Leader Services/IMS! For both Sending LEAs and AEDY Programs. Click the dates below to register for each session:

• September 11, 2024, 10am - 11:30am

• September 19, 2024, 1:30pm - 3pm

(From Screening to Intervening: Evidence-Based Interventions for At-Promise Youth) Presented by Dr. Kate Parker. Act 48 Credit available. Register here! View Dr. Parker's 2023 webinar, Planning for Success: Efficient and Effective Behavioral Screening and Intervention.

(AEDY Goal Writing Training) Come with your goal writing team and continue developing your skills for writing student goals! These trainings will walk your team through guiding questions, tips, and considerations for writing behavioral goals for students seated in AEDY. Register here for the session on October 1, 2024, 2pm - 3:30pm.

For a full calendar of events relevant to the AEDY field, check out the AEDY Calendar.

3. Reminder: Update Contact Information and IMS Logins ❗

For ALL Sending LEAs and AEDY Programs, this is your reminder to please access the application in Leader Services and:

• Sending LEAs - update the Sending LEA application page contact information

• AEDY Programs - update the Contact Information page and Staffing pages

• CAOs - update who has access to AEDY in IMS and their access levels

As a reminder, the PDE/PaTTAN team no longer has access to revise account information. Accounts can ONLY be updated, added, or removed by the LEA or Program's CAO. More information here.

August 5, 2024

The new school year is right around the corner! Here are 4 important things to get you on the right track 🚂

1. 2024-2025 Referrals Rollover 📋

For AEDY Programs - the rollover is here! Add the start and end dates for your 2024-2025 school year, then make corrections for the Presumptive Exit Dates (PEDs) of students who will be starting the school year seated in your program. A full set of instructions is available here on the website.

2. *NEW* AEDY for Sending LEAs 🏫

A new, updated video for sending LEA staff and administrators that reviews the essentials of AEDY in just 9 minutes! A great place to start for new staff. Click here to watch the video!

3. *NEW* The Formal Periodic Review Video Series 📹

A series of 4 short videos has been created from different lenses: AEDY Programs, Sending LEAs, Families, and Students. Each video looks at what the Formal Periodic Review (FPR) is and what responsibilities each role plays in the meetings. Click here to get started!

Note: this series replaces the module A Comprehensive Look at the Formal Periodic Review, which has been retired.

4. 2024-2025 Training Calendar 📆

Good news! AEDY Training for the 2024-2025 school year is now available for registration - See it all on the website here! Most registration links are already available for your team so be sure to share around! 

For a full calendar of events relevant to the AEDY field, check out the AEDY Calendar available here.