Our Work in the Field: Pennsylvania
NCIL staff and expert coaches are working with several state education agencies and the local education agencies they identify to provide intensive technical assistance.
Our work with Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network focuses on the implementation of a high-quality, effective model focused on using Response to Intervention (RTI) in reading.
Our Goals
Use of Response to Intervention in reading to determine special education eligibility for specific learning disabilities (SLD) in those schools that use a multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) approach.
Technical Assistance
In collaboration with PaTTAN, NCIL will collate and compile tools related to the implementation of a high-quality, effective model focused on using Response to Intervention (RTI) in reading to determine specific learning disabilities (SLD) in those schools that use a multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) approach.
About Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN)
The mission of the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network is to support the efforts and initiatives of Pennsylvania’s Bureau of Special Education, and to build the capacity of local educational agencies to serve students who receive special education services.
Meet the Pennsylvania Team
Ann Hinkson-Herrmann
Pennsylvania State Director, Bureau of Special Education
Jessica Keener-Haas
Bureau Adviser, RtI/SLD Approval Process Appointee
Angela Kirby-Wehr
Director, PaTTAN-Harrisburg
Victor Rodriguez-Diaz, Ph.D.
Assistant Director, PaTTAN-Harrisburg
Chris Cherny
Assistant Director, PaTTAN-Harrisburg
Jennifer Collins, Ed.D.
MTSS Statewide Lead Consultant, PaTTAN-Harrisburg
Meet Our Team

Lana Edwards Santoro Ph.D.
Expert Coach, NCIL

Nancy J. Nelson Ph.D.
PD and TA Strand Lead, NCIL

Scott K. Baker Ph.D.
PD and TA Strand Co-Lead, NCIL
The research reported here is funded by awards to the National Center on Improving Literacy from the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, in partnership with the Office of Special Education Programs (Award #: S283D160003). The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not represent views of OESE, OSEP, or the U.S. Department of Education. Copyright © 2021 National Center on Improving Literacy. https://improvingliterarcy.org