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Pine-Richland School District FAQs

K-3 Schools (Hance, Richland, and Wexford)

Q: Will hard copy materials be handed out for the rest of April and May’s learning
opportunities?
A: Hard copy materials will not be provided for the remainder of the school year. Learning
opportunities should be converted to digital copies as much as possible for a variety of reasons.
Our goal is to create learning opportunities that achieve learning goals in a manner that actively
engages students. Worksheets and packets are not always the best learning activity to meet
the learning goal. We hope to create learning opportunities that allow students to master
content while also keeping students engaged through innovative learning. Additionally, based
on the guidelines set forth by Governor Wolf as well as CDC, state, and county
recommendations, making packets and worksheets available at this time would not be prudent.

Student Services
Special and Gifted Education and School Counseling

Q: Will students continue to receive counseling services through School-Based
Mental Health/ Holy Family?

A: School-Based mental health services through Holy Family Institute will continue to provide
teletherapy outpatient counseling services by video and/or telephone to students and families.
Holy Family has the ability to conduct assessments and complete intake evaluations through
teletherapy. They will continue to provide a continuity of care in this manner during the school
closure. New intakes for outpatient referrals can be completed by contacting your school
counselor and/or directly contacting Holy Family Services at 412-766-9020, ext. 1222.

Q: Will students receive Extended School Year (ESY) services? What is the
contingency plan and notification to parents for ESY?

A: The Pennsylvania Department of Education/Bureau of Special Education continues to review
the delivery of Extended School Year (ESY) for the 2019-20 School Year. Pine-Richland will
plan accordingly for ESY. Once the district receives updated notification, we will share this
information.

Q: Will the district complete an initial multidisciplinary evaluation, reevaluation
and/or gifted multidisciplinary evaluation prior to the beginning of the 2020-21
school year?
A: Per the guidance of the U.S. Department of Education, evaluation/reevaluation timelines can
be suspended if the student had not yet been assessed prior to school closures in light of the
COVID-19 pandemic. If your child had an active, pending consent for an evaluation or
reevaluation which was signed prior to the Governor's closure of all schools within the state of
Pennsylvania, the evaluation/reevaluation will continue when face-to-face assessments can be
conducted. Multidisciplinary initial evaluations, gifted written reports and reevaluations that do
not require face-to-face assessments or observations may take place while schools are closed,
so long as a student’s parent or legal guardian consents. These same principles apply to similar
activities conducted by appropriate personnel for a student with a disability who has a plan
developed under Section 504, or who is being evaluated under Section 504.

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