Steel Valley School District

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OFFICE OF PUPIL SERVICES

Melissa Cheslock, Director of Pupil Services

Email: mcheslock@steelvalleysd.org

Telephone: 412-464-3600       ext 1905 
Fax: FAX to 412-464-3667

Joyce Kornacki, Secretary

Telephone 412-464-3600        ext 1900

SVSD Special Education Plan 2023 - 2026 Public Review [PDF]

SVSD Special Education Plan 2020 - 2023 Public Review [PDF]

Act 55 Extended Enrollment Form [PDF]

On August 30, 2023, a memo was sent to all LEAs titled "Change in Age of Eligibility for Free and Appropriate Public Education" from Dr. Carole L. Clancy, Director of the Pennsylvania Department of Education Bureau of Special Education. The memo states that "[t]he Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) is writing to communicate an important policy change that will provide continued education services to special education students. This policy change will ensure students can access Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) as they are entitled under federal law.

"Effective no later than September 5, 2023, all students entitled to FAPE and all of the rights and procedural safeguards under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Chapter 14 of Title 22 of the Pennsylvania Code may remain enrolled in public school until they turn 22 years of age. This includes students who turned 21 and exited during or after the 2022-2023 school term."

In order to inform families of this change, PDE will be contacting students with disabilities who turned 21 and exited school during or after the 2022-23 school term. School districts are also to reach out to these students to offer the option to re-enroll and access FAPE until their 22nd birthday. Please access the following links to obtain additional information regarding this PDE policy change: 

IDEA-B Policies and Procedure (Amended August 31, 2023)

Parent/Guardian Notice

PennLink August 30, 2023

For additional information about this policy change or to discuss your student's eligibility, please contact Melissa Cheslock, Director of Pupil Services, at 412-464-3600, extension 1905. 

Help Homeless and Foster Youth & Get a Tax Refund

Homeless/Fostercare Tax Refund in 2022

The Office of Pupil Services oversees, throughout the district, the provision of educational programs designed to support the educational, psychological, social-emotional and physical well being of the students in the Steel Valley community.

Educational Records – Privacy Rights of Parents and Students

1% Threshold Justification for PASA 


The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requires Pennsylvania to ensure that the total number of students assessed in each subject using the Pennsylvania Alternate System of Assessment (PASA) does not exceed one percent of the total number of all students in the state assessed on the statewide assessments. Each local educational agency (LEA) must complete and submit the PASA 1.0 Percent Participation Threshold Justification to the Bureau of Special Education (BSE) if it anticipates that more than 1.0 percent of its students enrolled in grades 3-8 and 11 will be assessed using the PASA. A list of LEAs who anticipate exceeding the threshold will be made publicly available on the Pennsylvania Department of Education website, in accordance with 34 CFR 200.6 (c)(3) regulations. LEAs must also make the document publicly available upon request, removing any personally identifiable information. The Steel Valley School District anticipates exceeding the 1.0 percent threshold for PASA participation for the 2022-23 testing cycle. The necessary justification information has been submitted to the BSE. Questions regarding the Steel Valley School District’s participation rates should be directed to Renee Kozusko, Director of Pupil Services, at 412-464-3600 or rkozusko@steelvalleysd.org.