Act 89 was established in 1974 by the state of Pennsylvania to provide auxiliary services to approved nonpublic schools. Act 89 programs are administered by intermediate units following regulations and procedures of the Department of Education and the Public School Code of Pennsylvania. Requests for services are initiated by the nonpublic school in response to the Pennsylvania Department of Education's online enrollment questionnaire each fall. Services provided in each IU are determined by (1) those already offered in area school districts; (2) established student need based on consultation with administrators; (3) budgetary limitations, and (4) the supply of qualified personnel, materials and equipment.
IU 13 currently provides the following services under Act 89:
- Instructional support for reading and math
- Guidance
- Speech and Language
- Psychological Services
- Funding for standardized achievement testing and scoring (in support of Act 89 programs)
- Student Support Team
- Consultation
- Secondary Enrichment Experience (SEE) Seminars for gifted middle school students
The role of the IU 13 Nonpublic School Program is to provide supplemental services to students in regular education programs.The program may not provide special education programs for students who are officially identified nor may Act 89 services be presented or perceived as a substitute for special education placement. Students identified as exceptional prior to entrance in a nonpublic school, however, may be enrolled in Act 89 programs as long as they benefit from the program and time is available for instruction.
Student Eligibility
Eligible students are Pennsylvania residents parentally placed in qualifying nonprofit K-12 nonpublic schools on a full-time basis. The following students are not funded by Act 89 and, subsequently, are not eligible for nonpublic education services:
- Preschool students
- Home school students
- Students whose primary residence is outside of Pennsylvania
- Students for whom tuition is paid by the Commonwealth