ABA: Applied Behavioral Analysis
AT: Assistive technology
APS: Approved Private School
ASD: Autism Spectrum Disorder
BASC-2: Behavior Assessment System for Children, 2nd Edition
BEC: Basic Education Circular. Policy guidance on education issues from the Pennsylvania Department of Education
BIP: Behavior Intervention Plan (see PBSP)
BCBA: Board Certified Behavioral Analyst
BSC: Behavioral Specialist Consultant
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.
CBA: Curriculum Based Assessment
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.
Chapter 16: The Chapter in Title 22 of the Pennsylvania Code which contains the Pennsylvania State Board of Education’s regulations pertaining to Gifted education.
Comp. Ed.: Compensatory Education. Make up services owed to a child with a disability who didn’t receive the services listed in their IEP or who didn’t receive an appropriate program or whose legal rights have been violated in a significant way.
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
GARS: Gilliam Autism Rating Scale
GED: General Equivalency Diploma
GIEP: Gifted Individualized Education Plan
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.
ISS: Instructional Support Services
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.
LD: Learning Disability or Learning Disabled
LEA: Local Educational Agency
LRE: Least Restrictive Environment
LS: Learning Support
MDE: Multidisciplinary Evaluation
NORA: Notice of Recommended Assignment
NOREP/PWN: Notice of Recommended Educational Placement/Prior Written Notice
ODD: Oppositional Defiant Disorder
OCD: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
ODR: Office for Dispute Resolution. Office funded by PDE to coordinate services for Due Process Hearings and other dispute resolution options (such as mediation and IEP facilitation).
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.
PDE: Pennsylvania Department of Education. State agency responsible for overseeing the provision of education and educational services to all children within the state.
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 (see BIP)
PDD/NOS:Pervasive Developmental Delay/Not Otherwise Specified
PSSA: Pennsylvania System of School Assessment. Statewide test measuring student proficiency on state academic standards.
PT: Physical therapy
PTE: Permission to Evaluate
RR: Reevaluation Report
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
ST: Speech Therapy
TOWRE: Test of Word Reading Efficiency
WIAT-2: Wechsler Individual Achievement Test, 2nd Edition.
WISC-IV: Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, 4th Edition.
WPPSI: Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence.
WRAT-4: Wide Range Achievement Test, 4th Edition.
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.
