Nonpublic School Services

The Bucks IU is eligible to provide services to students attending nonpublic school as mandated in state and federal regulations, and we currently do so in approximately one-third of the nonpublic schools in the county.  Below you can find some details to help you better understand the categories of services that may be available and the scope of each.

Parents and guardians should please note that nonpublic school student services can vary from those services provided, or are available, in their respective public local education agency (LEA) schools.

Remedial Services – Act 89

Act 89 services are state funded, supplemental services for Pennsylvania students attending nonpublic schools. These services are intended to provide supplemental support to students in regular education programs (these are not special education services). Examples of remedial services provided through the Bucks IU include remedial reading and math, counseling and psychological services, and speech/language services. Act 89 services are provided to each nonpublic school through consultation with that school Principal and are based on available resources.  

Equitable Participation (EP)

Children who have been evaluated and qualified as a student with a disability, and therefore may require specially designed instruction, are eligible to receive consultation services in a nonpublic school through Equitable Participation. The services offered through this program and the Bucks IU include consultation with the teachers and personnel who are working with the student, professional development for staff, and the purchase of supplementary aids and materials to support specially designed instructions for that student.

Title I

Title I is a federally funded, supplemental education program that provides financial assistance to Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) to improve educational opportunities for educationally deprived or neglected children. Nonpublic schools are eligible to receive their equitable share of the available Title I funds of the LEA. Services are provided on behalf of LEAs who contract with the Bucks IU to provide remedial services (we currently provide reading remediation in 11 of the county’s 13 districts).  For additional information, it is important to contact the LEA for the region where the nonpublic school is located.

Title II Part A

This is a federally funded supplemental educational program that provides financial assistance to improve the skills of teachers and the quality of instruction in public and private elementary and secondary schools. Nonpublic schools are eligible to receive their equitable share of the available Title II Part A funds of the LEA. Services are provided on behalf of LEAs who contract with the Bucks IU to provide these services.