AT	Assistive technology
BECs	Basic Education Circulars. Policy guidance on education issues from the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
BSE	Bureau of Special Education. Office in the Pennsylvania Department of Education that administers and manages the state’s special education resources and oversees compliance with the IDEA.
Chapter 14	The Chapter in Title 22 of the Pennsylvania Code which contains the Pennsylvania State Board of Education’s special education regulations that implement the IDEA.
Chapter 15	The Chapter in Title 22 of the Pennsylvania Code which contains the Pennsylvania State Board of Education’s regulations that implement Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
Compensatory Education	Make up services owed to a child with a disability who didn’t receive the services listed in her IEP or who didn’t receive an appropriate program or whose legal rights have been violated in a significant way. Also known as “comp. ed.”
DPH	Due Process Hearing (special education hearing)
ED	Emotional Disability (or Emotional Disturbance)
EI	Early Intervention
EIS	Early Intervening Services
ER	Evaluation Report
ESY	Extended School Year
FAPE	Free Appropriate Public Education
FBA	Functional Behavior Assessment
IDEA	Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Federal law that requires states to provide children with disabilities a free appropriate public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment (LRE).
IDEIA 2004	Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004. Name of the law which reauthorized and amended the IDEA in 2004.
IEE	Independent Educational Evaluation
IEP	Individualized Education Program (plan for eligible children from ages three through 21)
IFSP	Individualized Family Service Plan (plan for eligible children from birth to age three)
IU	Intermediate Unit. Pennsylvania’s 29 Intermediate Units are regional education service agencies charged with providing programs and services to public, private and non-public (religious) schools.
LEA	Local Educational Agency. In Pennsylvania, usually a school district, a charter school, or an IU.
LRE	Least Restrictive Environment
NOREP/PWN	Notice of Recommended Educational Placement/Prior Written Notice
ODR	Office for Dispute Resolution. Office funded by PDE to coordinate services for and IEP facilitation) – ODR’s website is: http://odr-pa.org/
OT	Occupational Therapy
PaTTAN	Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network. Provides educators, parents, and agencies involved in special education with a statewide network of technical assistance trainings, and publications. PaTTAN’s website is: http://www.pattan.net
PDE	Pennsylvania Department of Education. State agency responsible for overseeing the provision of education and educational services to all children within the state. PDE’s website is: http://www.education.state.pa.us
PASA	Pennsylvania Alternate System of Assessment. Statewide test for children with significant cognitive disabilities who cannot take the PSSA.
PBS	Positive Behavior Support
PBSP	Positive Behavior Support Plan
PSSA	Pennsylvania System of School Assessment. Statewide test measuring student proficiency on state academic standards.
PT	Physical therapy
PTE	Permission to Evaluate
RtI	Response to Intervention
SAS	Supplementary aids and services
SDI	Specially designed instruction (special education)
SEA	State Educational Agency (in Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Department of Education).
Section 504 Plan	Also known as a Service Agreement, 504 Plan, or 504 Accommodations Plan. Plan adopted for children who are eligible for accommodations or other services due to disability under Chapter 15 and Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
SLD	Specific learning disability
U.S. DOE	United States Department of Education. Federal agency responsible for overseeing the provision of education and educational services to all children in the United States.