Alternative Education for Disruptive Youth (AEDY) Programs in Pennsylvania were created to provide educational services for students who have been removed from the regular education setting for specific disciplinary reasons.  Students referred to an AEDY program must be in grades 6-12 and meet the definition of a disruptive student: A student who poses a clear threat to the safety and welfare of other students or the school staff, who creates an unsafe school environment or whose behavior materially interferes with the learning of other students or disrupts the overall educational process.

The "disruptive" student will exhibit to a marked degree any or all of the following conditions:

1. Disregard for school authority, including persistent violation of school policy and rules;
2. Display of or use of controlled substances on school property or during school-affiliated activities;
3. Violent or threatening behavior on school property or during school-related activities;
4. Possession of a weapon on school property;
5. Commission of a criminal act on school property;
6. Misconduct that would merit suspension or expulsion under school policy

Students will only remain in the AEDY placement until they have met their behavioral goals, at which time, students return to the regular education setting. Schools placing students in AEDY programs and AEDY programs may not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, disability, and/or any other legally protected category.

Students with disabilities will be individually assessed via a manifestation determination to determine whether the behavior subjecting them to possible placement in AEDY is a manifestation of a disability.  LEAs must not refer to AEDY Programs, and AEDY Programs must not accept students with disabilities due to behavior or conduct which is caused by the student's disability, has a direct and substantial relationship to the student's disability, or was the direct result of the LEA's failure to implement the student's IEP or 504 Plan, with the exception of the "special circumstances" whereby a student may be removed to an interim alternative educational setting for no more than 45 school days. 

INFORMAL HEARING
Before a student is placed in an AEDY Program, the student must be provided with an informal hearing. The purpose of the informal hearing is to enable the student to meet with the appropriate school official(s) to explain the circumstances surrounding the event for which the student is being disciplined and to determine whether the student should be disciplined.

DURING PLACEMENT IN AEDY
While in an AEDY Program, the student must receive at least 20 hours of academic instruction each week in the areas of math, English language arts, science, social studies, and health/life skills.  AEDY programs must also provide a minimum of 2.5 hours of counseling a week with the purpose of modifying the disruptive behavior that led to the student placement. 

The student must receive a formal periodic review (progress review) at least once each semester.  The student, parents/guardians, AEDY staff, staff from the school district, and other outside agencies will be invited and strongly encouraged to attend the review. The student’s progress towards their academic, behavioral and/or attendance goals will be reviewed. When behavioral goals are met, a transition plan is created to move the student back to the general education setting. The student cannot remain in an AEDY Program for poor grades, not having enough credits, or for other reasons.

QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS
Individuals having complaints and concerns regarding AEDY are required to seek resolution through the School District rather than elevating concerns to the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) in the first instance.  

Any individual or organization may submit a written complaint to the Muhlenberg School District using the AEDY Complaint Form found in the menu to the left.  The form must be completed and sent to the Supervisor of AEDY.

The Muhlenberg School District also partners with River Rock Academy, as another AEDY program solution.

24 P.S. § 19-1902-C(5) provides that an AEDY Program may only be used when all other established methods of intervention and/or discipline have been exhausted. Further, students placed in AEDY are limited only to those students who:

• Pose a clear threat to the safety and welfare of other students or the school staff; or
• Create an unsafe school environment; or
• Whose behavior materially interferes with the learning of other students or disrupts the overall educational process.

AND

• Exhibit to a marked degree any or all of the following six criteria for placement:
• Disregard for school authority, including persistent violation of school policy and rules.
• Display or use of controlled substances on school property or during school-affiliated activities.
• Violent or threatening behavior on school property or during school-affiliated activities.
• Possession of a weapon on school property, as defined by the Crimes Code at 18 Pa.C.S. § 912 (relating to possession of weapon on school property).
• Commission of a criminal act on school property or during school-affiliated activities.
• Misconduct that would merit suspension or expulsion under school policy.

Unilateral Placements

Muhlenberg *students will receive an automatic 45-day, unilateral placement if one or more of the following behaviors occur:

1. A student brings a weapon to school
2. A student possesses, uses or distributes illegal drugs
3. A student causes serious bodily injury

*Students with IEPs can receive a 45-day unilateral placement providing:

1. The behavior is NOT a manifestation of their disability

— Or —

1. The behavior IS determined to be a manifestation of their disability, AND
2. The parent agrees to AEDY placement

All students while in the AEDY program, will be expected to follow the rules stated below for the duration of their assignment.  Following the rules set forth below will support the presumptive exit date from AEDY.  Not following one or more rules could provide evidence that he/she is not ready to be placed back in a regular education setting, and could extend their placement in AEDY for further support: 

• Attend daily with the exception of excused absences (e.g., illness)
• Follow and cooperate with the assigned AEDY daily schedule (e.g., arrival, dismissal, lunch, etc.)
• Work on and demonstrate progress on assigned Edgenuity lessons or other academics
• Respectfully cooperate and contribute to counseling sessions designed to support student needs while in AEDY
• Respectfully cooperate with all AEDY and school rules and procedures (e.g. dress codes, fire drills, counseling, special education, etc.)
• Treat all administrators, teachers, support teacher and other staff with respect
• No physical altercations or threats of any kind with other students, teachers or staff
• No verbal altercations or threats of any kind with other students, teachers or staff
• No threats of any kind via school devices, personal devices or social media 
• No cell phone possession or use, from arrival to dismissal, unless specifically permitted for a limited amount of time by the teacher as an earned reward

Special Education

(From PDE website) AEDY Programs must comply with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations pertaining to the education of students with disabilities, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504, and the American with Disabilities Act.  The sending LEA is responsible for ensuring that students with disabilities within AEDY Programs receive a free and appropriate public education (FAPE).

A student may not be removed to an AEDY Program if their behavior is a manifestation of their disability with the exception of the circumstances listed in 34 C.F.R. § 300.530(g) or § 300.532(b)(2)(ii), or when the student's parent and LEA agree to the change in educational placement pursuant to 34 C.F.R. § 300.530(f)(2). For all students eligible under IDEA and Section 504, the LEA must conduct and document a manifestation determination prior to a disciplinary change in educational placement.  For circumstances listed in 34 C.F.R. § 300.530(g), the LEA must conduct and document a manifestation determination within 10 days of the decision to change the educational placement. A copy of a recommended Manifestation Determination Worksheet is available on the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance (PaTTAN) website at www.pattan.net (Opens in a new window, keyword "Manifestation Determination Worksheet")

Special Education Records

(PDE website) The following documents must be forwarded to the AEDY Program when a special education student is placed:

1. Permission to Evaluate, Permission to Reevaluate or Agreement to Waive Reevaluation – with signatures.
2. Evaluation Report or Reevaluation Report – with evaluator signatures for SLD students and list of evaluators for other disabilities.
3. Invitation to Participate in the Individualized Education Program (IEP) Team Meeting Or Other Meeting – with signatures.
4. Individualized Education Program (IEP) – with signatures.
5. Notice of Recommended Educational Placement (NOREP) – with signatures.
6. Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA), if available.
7. Positive Behavior Support Plan (PBSP), if available.
8. Manifestation Determination.

English Language Learners

(PDE website) The education of students whose dominant language is not English is the responsibility of the LEA. Regulations require the LEA to provide a program for every student who is an English Learner (EL).  22 Pa. Code § 4.26. 

The sending LEA maintains the ultimate responsibility for ensuring that EL students in AEDY Programs receive EL services and education that conforms to federal and state law.

AEDY Programs must comply with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations pertaining to the education of students identified as EL.  ELs are entitled to equal access to the general education curriculum via modifications and adaptations to and accommodations for instruction and assessments as well as planned instruction in English language development. Beginning on July 1, 2019, LEAs must certify to PDE in the online application that ELs in AEDY Programs are provided with services in accordance with federal and state laws and regulations.

When an EL is educated in an AEDY Program, he/she must:

1. Receive a 45-day Presumptive Exit Date,
2. Receive planned English language development instruction by a certified ESL/Bilingual Education teacher (Program Specialist ESL Certification), and
3. Receive adaptations/modifications in the delivery of content instruction and assessments by all teachers based on the student's language proficiency levels and the Pennsylvania English Language Development Standards (PA ELDS) Framework for ELs as well as the Pennsylvania Academic Standards.

When an EL is educated in an AEDY Program, the sending LEA must:

1. Provide PDE with a copy of their EL Service Plan if the AEDY Program is providing the EL instruction.
2. LEAs are responsible to ensure AEDY Programs have plans that give due consideration to the following requirements and program recommendations.
3. Ensure that parents/guardians are provided with translation and interpretation services.

When an EL is educated in an AEDY Program, the provider must:

1. Provide PDE with a copy of their individual EL Service Plan if they are providing the EL instruction.
2. Ensure that parents/guardians are provided with translation and interpretation services.

Other Supports

Muhlenberg School District is always committed to the success of our students.  Students receiving any other support while in regular education will continue to receive this support while enrolled in the Muhlenberg AEDY program

Alternative Education for Disruptive Youth (AEDY) Program

A program approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) that is designed to provide a temporary placement for disruptive students in grades 6 through 12. Students placed in an AEDY Program continue to make academic progress towards graduation and work to remedy disruptive behavior through counseling and other behavioral interventions.  AEDY placements are used only as a last resort, after all other behavioral interventions have failed to remedy the student's disruptive behavior(s). (PDE website) 

AEDY LEA In-house Program

A PDE-approved AEDY Program operated by an LEA or LEAs (including vocational/technical schools, charter schools or intermediate units) designed to provide a sound educational course of study and counseling for disruptive students who are removed from the regular education setting. (PDE website) 

Controlled substance

A drug or other substances as defined in the Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act (35 P.S. §780-104) or as identified under schedules I, II, III, IV or V of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. § 812(c)). (PDE website) 

Disruptive Student

As defined by the Public School Code (24 P.S. § 19-1901-C(5)), a student in grades 6 through 12:

• who poses a clear threat to the safety and welfare of other students or the school staff; or
• who creates an unsafe school environment; or
• whose behavior materially interferes with the learning of other students or disrupts the overall educational process.

Additionally, the student must exhibit to a marked degree any or all of the following conditions:

1. Disregard for school authority, including persistent violation of school policy and rules.1
2. Display or use of controlled substances on school property or during school-affiliated activities.
3. Violent or threatening behavior on school property or during school-affiliated activities.
4. Possession of a weapon on school property, as defined by the Crimes Code at 18 Pa.C.S. § 912 (relating to possession of weapon on school property).
5. Commission of a criminal act on school property or during school-affiliated activities.
6. Misconduct that would merit suspension or expulsion under school policy.  (PDE website)

Formal Periodic Review

AEDY LEA In-house and Private Provider Programs are required to conduct formal periodic reviews of every student placed in an AEDY Program. This review must occur, at a minimum, prior to the Presumptive Exit Date that the student is in the AEDY Program. The purpose of this review is to determine whether the student is ready to transition back to the regular education setting.  (24 P.S. § 19-1901-C)(1)). (PDE website)

Presumptive Exit Date

PDE has established a 45-day presumptive exit date to ensure that students do not remain in placement beyond 45 days without a review of progress and a deliberate decision for continuation in the program.  Students meeting behavioral goals should transition back to the regular education setting, and students not meeting behavioral goals may remain in the AEDY Program with their progress reviewed prior to the second Presumptive Exit Date. (PDE website)

Weapon

"Weapon" is defined by the Crimes Code at 18 Pa.C.S. § 912 (relating to possession of weapon on school property). (PDE website)

Mr. Steve Baylor, AEDY Supervisor
610-921-8000 x1240

Mr. Christopher Luft, AEDY General Education Teacher
610-921-8078 x4279

Mr. Rob Flowers, AEDY Special Education Teacher
610-921-8078 x4279

Ms. Jenna Pavlovich, AEDY School Counselor
610-921-8078 x4243

Ms. Erica Brumbach, AEDY Administrative Assistant
610-921-8000 x1280

Mr. Michael Mish, Director of Pupil Services
610-921-8000 x5521

Muhlenberg AEDY Program Address: Muhlenberg High School, 400 Sharp Avenue, Reading, PA 19605

Muhlenberg AEDY Administrative Office: Muhlenberg District Office, 801 Bellevue Avenue, Reading, PA 19605