Glossary of Terms from PDE
APPROVED SECONDARY CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION PROGRAM: A program that has been approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education in accordance with applicable State Board of Education regulations governing career and technical education. (Family and Consumer Sciences programs are not included.)
CAREER AND TECHNICAL CENTER (CTC): A public school that provides career and technical education to secondary school students, out-of-school youth and adults in a geographical area comprised of and operated by one or more school districts.
CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION INFORMATION SYSTEM (CATS): A Pennsylvania Department of Education Career and Technical Education Information System for the purpose of approving career and technical education programs.
COMPULSORY SCHOOL AGE: The period of a child's life from the time the child enters school as a beginner which may be no later than at the age of eight (8) years, until the age of seventeen (17) years or graduation from a high school, whichever occurs first. Note: Beginning with the 2020-2021 school year, the compulsory age may be no later than the age of six (6) years, until the age of eighteen (18) years or graduation from a high school, whichever occurs first. Reference: State Board of Education Regulations, Chapter 11, Section 11.
DAY TREATMENT CENTER: A nonresidential facility to which children are referred pursuant to a proceeding under 42 Pa. C.S. Chapter 63 (relating to juvenile matters). Such facilities are approved/licensed under the Department of Human Services. Chapter 3800 Regulations, Child Residential and Day Treatment Facilities, govern day treatment centers/programs.
ELEMENTARY: An instructional level that includes grades one through six.
EVERY STUDENT SUCCEEDS ACT (ESSA): The Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 replaced the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. It includes provisions to help ensure success for students and schools.
EXTENDED SCHOOL YEAR: Special education services or related services provided outside of a standard schedule of school days within a school term, for the purpose of ensuring the provision of a free appropriate public education to an eligible student. Membership for students in extended school year programs should not be reported to Child Accounting. Reference: State Board of Education Regulations Chapter 14, Department of Education Chapter 342
GENERAL EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (GED) CERTIFICATION: A high school equivalency certification obtained through achievement of satisfactory scores on comprehensive tests that measure the educational development of students who have not completed their formal high school education. Such students are issued a Commonwealth Secondary School Diploma issued by the Department of Education.
INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PROGRAM (IEP): The plan written by the IEP team (including parents) that specifically describes the programs and services necessary for a free appropriate public education for the eligible child.
LOCAL EDUCATION AGENCY (LEA): A board of education or other legally constituted local school authority having administrative control and direction of public elementary or secondary schools in a city, county, township, school district, or political subdivision in a state, or any other public educational institution or agency having administrative control and direction of a career and technical education program. This term includes state correctional education agencies.
PLAN OF DELIVERY: Methods of instruction and technical skills development, either in a school or work setting, as outlined in the approved secondary career and technical education program. Plans may encompass either occupational (non-tech prep) or tech prep delivery.
SECONDARY: An instructional level that includes grades seven through twelve.
SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAM: An instructional program that operates after the standard scheduled school year is over which is designed for students to make-up classes they did not pass, etc. Membership for students in summer school programs should not be reported to Child Accounting.
TECH PREP PROGRAM: A combined secondary and postsecondary program that leads to an associate degree or certificate and employment. It provides integration of academic and technical preparation in engineering technology; applied science; mechanical, industrial or practical art or trade; agriculture; health; or business. This includes development of competence in mathematics, science and communications through a sequential course of study.
