The state of Pennsylvania established Act 89 through legislative action in 1975. The purpose of Act 89 is to provide auxiliary educational services to Pennsylvania students who are enrolled in nonprofit, non-public schools. Regulations, guidelines, and procedures are issued and updated by the state Department of Education. All related information is summarized in the Public School Code of Pennsylvania.
The Capital Area Intermediate Unit (CAIU) administers the fiscal, educational, and programmatic services to the non-public schools located within Dauphin, Cumberland, and Perry Counties. Approximately 10,000 students attend these schools.
Academic Remediation
The major objective of teachers who provide remedial assistance is to help students maximize academic strengths while overcoming individual learning needs. Individual and small group instruction is aligned with classroom activities. Modifications and adaptations are used to help each child reach his or her learning potential.
School Counseling
School counselors work as a team with teachers, administrators, and parents. Counseling services are provided to elementary and secondary students. In order to meet student needs within individual schools, counseling services are offered in the following areas:
Academic areas, career needs, college planning, consultation, crisis intervention, developmental programs, personal or preventative contacts, educational referral, and student evaluation.
Speech and Language Support
Speech and language assessments are used to identify eligible students. Services are designed and individualized by a speech clinician to provide therapy for students with language difficulties, articulation, fluency, and voice usage.
Psychological Evaluation and Consultative Services
Psycho-educational assessments are completed as a result of school based concerns. Assessments are used to gather additional information about the student in order to help him or her be successful in their present setting. The primary focus of consultative services is to define concerns related to individual student issues. The school psychologist may provide input and direction to foster new and expanded student learning options.