FAQs

An AEDY Program is a program approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) to provide a temporary placement for disruptive students in grades 6 through 12. Students placed in an AEDY Program continue to make academic progress towards graduation and work to remedy disruptive behavior through counseling and other behavioral interventions. AEDY placements are used only as a last resort, after all other behavioral interventions have failed to remedy the student’s disruptive behavior(s).

Alternative Education for Disruptive Youth (AEDY) programs are temporary placements for students in grades 6-12 whose behavior(s) meet one or more of the criteria below to a marked degree:

1. Disregard for school authority, including persistent violation of school policy and rules;

2. Display or use of controlled substances on school property or during school activities;

3. Violent or threatening behavior on school property or during school-affiliated activities;

4. Possession of a weapon on school property, as defined under 18 Pa. C.S. §912;

5. Commission of a criminal act on school property or during school-affiliated activities and,

6. Misconduct that would merit suspension or expulsion under school policy.

Importantly, truancy is no longer an acceptable reason for placement in an AEDY program.

A map of approved AEDY providers and Sending LEAs with approved applications can be found embedded in our home page or by clicking here. 

To refer a student to an approved AEDY provider, every sending LEA must:

1. Complete a Sending LEA application and have it approved by PDE.

2. Provide the student with an informal hearing in accordance with 22 Pa Code § 12.8(c). The purpose of the informal hearing is to enable the student to meet with the appropriate school official to explain the circumstances surrounding the event for which the student is being disciplined and to determine whether or not the student should be disciplined.

3. Use the Leader Services referral system to start a referral for the student in question. 

4. Communicate directly with the AEDY program and follow any additional steps required by the specific program (e.g. additional documentation).

The following requirements must be observed and documented through the AEDY Student Referral Process:

• Notification of the specific reasons for the removal from the regular education setting must be provided in writing to the parents or guardians and the student; sufficient notice of the time and place of the informal hearing must be given;

• A student has the right to question any witnesses present at the hearing;

• A student has the right to speak to and produce witnesses on his or her own behalf; and

• The school entity shall offer to hold the informal hearing prior to placement in the AEDY Program. If the student’s presence in the regular education setting poses a continuing danger to persons or property or provides an ongoing disruption of the academic process, immediate placement in the approved AEDY program may occur with the informal hearing to follow. The exception is generally discouraged and should be limited only to the most serious, ongoing infractions.

AEDY is a temporary placement for students. When a student enters an AEDY program, a presumptive exit date of 45 school days is created for the student. At the 45 day Formal Periodic Review (required for all students in placement), the team will meet to determine if the student has met their individualized, measurable behavioral goal. This goal determines if the student will begin exit/transition out of the AEDY program. Read more about the Formal Periodic Review process here.

Entering AEDY

The student's behavior must meet one or more of the criteria below to a marked degree:

1. Disregard for school authority, including persistent violation of school policy and rules;

2. Display or use of controlled substances on school property or during school activities;

3. Violent or threatening behavior on school property or during school-affiliated activities;

4. Possession of a weapon on school property, as defined under 18 Pa. C.S. §912;

5. Commission of a criminal act on school property or during school-affiliated activities and,

6. Misconduct that would merit suspension or expulsion under school policy.

Importantly, truancy is no longer an acceptable reason for placement in an AEDY program. Students may not remain in AEDY placement as the result of truancy.

In the Program

AEDY Programs may only be used when all other established methods of intervention and/or discipline have been exhausted.

Programs provide a temporary removal for students in grades 6-12.

Students must receive:

• 990 hours of instruction

• 2.5 counseling hours weekly

• Behavior assessment within 5 days

• A formal periodic review which outlines individual goals for the student

• Course credits

• Options for elective courses

Exiting AEDY

Students exit AEDY Programs when their behavioral goals are met. During the formal periodic review meeting, a transition/exit plan is created that explains the length of the transition period and the supports that will be provided for the student throughout the transition process.

AEDY Programs provide a variety of supports for students based on their individual needs. During the first formal periodic review meeting, families are encouraged to provide information that will help the review team to plan for specific supports for students.

Specific supports/Interventions may include:

• Individual and group counseling

• Drug and alcohol counseling groups

• Peer to peer counseling/mediation student-directed

• counseling groups

• Anger replacement therapy

• Assigned mentors

• Check in-check out

• Instruction with pre-teaching and re-teaching career readiness

• Mindfulness strategies

A formal periodic review (FPR) occurs no later than 45 days into a student’s placement in AEDY. The review team includes general education teachers, counselors, administrators, AEDY representatives, home school district representatives, parent(s)/guardian(s), and the student.

The meeting requires a discussion surrounding the individual student’s:

• Goal progress

• Grades

• Attendance

• Intervention/supports

• Feedback from each member of the review team

After reviewing the information, the team revises or plans for the opportunity for student success. This may include revising the goal(s) or increasing supports for the student. Once the review team determines the student has met their required behavioral goals, the team will develop an individualized exit plan for the student.

Learn more about the Formal Periodic Review process here.

The PDE AEDY team can be reached by emailing RA-EDAEDY@pa.gov.

Reach the PaTTAN AEDY Team either by emailing your point of contact directly or by emailing aedy@pattan.net.