As mental health services are shifted from large institutional settings to smaller, community based services, residential treatment facilities are emerging in many Bucks County school districts.  All school age residents are eligible for special education services.  The local school district in which the RTF is located may request the Intermediate Unit provide these services.  Adolescent residents exhibit severe mental health disorders such as depression, schizophrenia, bi-polar illness, panic disorder, post traumatic stress syndrome, or compulsive personality disorder.

Students residing at an RTF require special education appropriate for pupils with a wide range of individual abilities and severity of illness. Programming is designed to meet the needs of pupils with a wide range of cognitive abilities and instructional needs.

Education emphasis is upon academic, behavioral controls, social skills and basic living skills.  The main objective of the educational program is to support the resident's therapeutic treatment plan while providing a special education program that assists students in returning to their homes, communities and local schools.