State grant - b preschool (619)

The Pennsylvania Department of Education received a $15.35 million Special Education Preschool Grants formula award (CFDA 84.173) from the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, effective July 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026. This program provides federal funding to assist Pennsylvania in delivering free appropriate public education and related services to children with disabilities ages 3 through 5 years. The department administers the grant by distributing sub-awards to intermediate units, school districts, and other regional educational organizations throughout the Commonwealth to support specialized instruction, therapeutic services including speech and language therapy and occupational/physical therapy, assistive technology, and individualized support services designed to prepare young children with disabilities for successful transitions into kindergarten.

The grant was distributed to 24 sub-awardees across Pennsylvania, including intermediate units and school districts such as Hazleton Area School District, Capital Area Intermediate Unit, Pittsburgh Public Schools, and Berks County Intermediate Unit 14. These sub-recipients utilize the funding to implement comprehensive special education programs serving preschool-age children with disabilities across their respective service regions. The formula-based allocation ensures equitable distribution of federal resources to support Pennsylvania's mandate to provide accessible and appropriate educational services to all eligible young children with disabilities, with the standard 15-month performance period allowing for effective program implementation and service delivery at the local level.