Customized Professional Development & Technical Assistance

Vision Statement

Our vision is to provide accessible, customizable, and evidence-based professional development and technical assistance to educators, with the goal of improving outcomes for students with disabilities. By collaborating with our IU partners, LEAs, researchers, and other stakeholders, we seek to develop and implement effective strategies that bridge the gap between research and practice, and that promote the professional growth and retention of special education teachers.

Available Supports for 2025–2026

LEAs may request one or more of the following supports to meet their local needs:

Professional Development

LEAs may request targeted professional learning aligned to school priorities or educator needs. These sessions may be:

• Offered in-person or virtually
• Cover topics such as:
  • Specially designed instruction
  • Behavioral supports
  • Inclusive practices
  • Literacy and math instruction
  • Areas aligned to IDEA requirements and evidence-based practices

Critical Supports

• Designed to address urgent or high-need situations
• Include short-term, on-site, job-embedded coaching
• Provide technical assistance and stabilization support
• Strengthen instructional practices
• Enhance learning environments for students with disabilities

Emergent Supports

• Focused on targeted, specific areas of improvement
• Provide professional development and job-embedded coaching
• Aligned to current LEA needs
• May include:
  • Onsite modeling
  • Co-planning
  • Technical assistance

Systemic Supports

Two systemic pathways are available for 2025–2026:

1. Integrated MTSS Support

• Assists LEAs in aligning academic and behavioral tiered systems
• Strengthens system coherence
• Improves service delivery
• Focuses on inclusive practices

2. Emotional Support Systems Support

• Builds a continuum of services for students with emotional and behavioral disabilities
• Focuses on:
  • Trauma-informed practices
  • Multidisciplinary teaming
  • Advanced-tier intervention planning

Important Dates

• Systemic supports application goes live after August 7th webinar
• Application due by end of day on September 2, 2025

PaTTAN offers free professional development and technical assistance to Pennsylvania school districts and families.

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