Local Task Force 

- WIU 7

Mission

The Local Task force is a committee of parents, community members, and school staff who come together to collectively work toward improving the services for school-age children with disabilities in the least restrictive environment.  

2023-2024 LTF Schedule and Brochure

2023-2024 LTF Schedule and Brochure.pdf

LTF Meeting Documents

LTF Speaker Series Videos

09/29/2020

"Lessons Learned from the First Shutdown"

10/14/2020

"Supporting Students' Mental Wellness"

09/28/2021

"Recovering From COVID:  How Schools are Moving Forward"

Handouts

10/19/2021

"Count Me In:  Bringing Your Voice to Your Child's IEP Meeting"

Handouts

11/16/2021

"What You NEED to Know about Restraints"

Handouts 

01/18/2022

"Tech for All:  How Career and Technology Centers Can Support ALL Learners" 

Handouts

09/27/2022

"Accessing Children's Mental Heath Care"

Handouts

11/08/2022

"Transition to Kindergarten"

1/17/2023

"Pathways to Adulthood:  Transition Planning"

Handouts

LTF Contact Information

ChairpersonMelissa Skiffen

mskiffen@achieva.info

724-837-8159, ext. 112


Vice Chairperson:  Natalie Smith

nsmith@wiu7.org

724-219-2321

State Task Force  Website and Historical Background

State Task Force Website:  https://www.pattan.net/Partners/State-Task-Force 

On May 5, 1972, the Federal District Court for Eastern Pennsylvania made final the order, injunction, stipulation and consent agreement in the suit filed by the Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Children (PARC), currently The Arc of Pennsylvania, against the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Secretary of the Department of Education, the State Board of Education, the Secretary of the Department of Public Welfare and all their instrumentalities on behalf of 13 Children with mental retardation who had been denied access to a free public program of education and training PARC v. Comm. of Pa. 343 F. Supp. 279 (1972). The agreement mandated the development of a Commonwealth Plan for the Identification, Location and Evaluation of Mentally Retarded Children (COMPILE), and Commonwealth Plan for the Education and Training of Mentally Retarded Children (COMPET) as well as the establishment of due process procedures. These documents were developed through the coordinated effort of the Pennsylvania Departments of Education and Public Welfare and Association for Retarded Children (PARC). They were reviewed for contents and approved. COMPILE provided for the establishment of a state task force and 29 local task forces (one in each intermediate unit) whose primary purpose is to insure that the intent and spirit of the Right to Education Consent Agreement is carried out throughout the commonwealth.