Based in Harrisburg, PA
Boaz Gregory
Special Education Advocate
I’m a special education teacher with experience supporting students with behavioral, intellectual, and learning needs.
- From $100 per hour
- Meets in person or by video
IEP advocates in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania uses its own forms and chapters. PTE, ER, NOREP, Chapter 14, and Chapter 15. Compare advocates who can help you understand what each document means and what action to take next.
3 based in Pennsylvania · 8 virtual advocates who work with Pennsylvania schools
Pennsylvania’s forms create the paper trail that drives the case
A verbal request should lead to a Permission to Evaluate form, written consent starts the evaluation timeline, the Evaluation Report explains eligibility and needs, and the NOREP records the district’s proposed or refused action. Missing or unclear documents can make it difficult to establish what the district decided and when.
An advocate can help the family use those forms strategically: defining the suspected areas, reviewing the evaluation, preparing the IEP, and responding to a NOREP or compliance problem before deadlines pass.
Pennsylvania special education forms and terminology
Pennsylvania’s forms and acronyms create the paper trail for evaluations, eligibility, IEP decisions, and disputes.
- PTE
- Permission to Evaluate, the form used to obtain written parental consent for an initial special education evaluation.
- ER
- Evaluation Report, the multidisciplinary report summarizing assessment data, eligibility, and educational needs.
- NOREP
- Notice of Recommended Educational Placement/Prior Written Notice, documenting a proposed or refused action and the parent’s response options.
- Chapter 14
- Pennsylvania regulations governing IDEA special education services for eligible students.
- Chapter 15 Service Agreement
- Pennsylvania’s state framework for Section 504-type protections and services for protected handicapped students.
- BSE and ODR
- The Bureau of Special Education manages state complaints; the Office for Dispute Resolution manages mediation, due process, and other dispute-resolution services.
What the work looks like
Before the meeting an advocate reads the plan against the evaluation and pulls the progress data to see whether the goals actually moved.
Write down what changed at home. Teachers see one room for one hour and parents see the rest of the day.
Advocates based in Pennsylvania
These advocates list Pennsylvania as their home base. Compare rates, read their backgrounds, and message them directly.
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By video
Join on Zoom, Google Meet, or the school's platform.
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By phone
Call in when video is not an option.
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In person
Some advocates travel to the school when needed.
Based in Coraopolis, PA
Brittany Maurizi
Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Special Education Advocate
Hi there! I'm Brittany, owner and founder of Balanced Behaviors, LLC. I'm a Behavior Analyst and Licensed Behavior Specialist in Pennsylvania with a Master’s in Special Education from Slippery Rock…
- Autism, Behavioral Support, Developmental Delay, Intellectual Disability
- From $75 per hour
- Free first call
- Meets in person or by video
Based in Philadelphia, PA
Karen McCree
Educational Consultant
I began this journey because my own daughter was issued an IEP in 3rd grade. I didn't understand special education.
- ADHD / Attention, Autism Spectrum, Behavioral & Emotional, Behavioral Support
- From $100 per hour
- Free first call
- Meets in person or by video
Virtual advocates who work with Pennsylvania families
These advocates are not based in Pennsylvania. They join IEP meetings by video or phone, which IDEA allows when you and the school agree.
Virtual · based in Katy, TX · works with Pennsylvania schools
Sunnye Garza
Special Education Advocate
Besides being a parent of a neurodivergent son, I have been a special education teacher, diagnostician, and advocate for the past 30 years. I am a true hands-on, walk in your shoes type of advocate.
- From $100 per hour
- Meets in person or by video
Virtual · based in Arlington Heights, IL · works with Pennsylvania schools
Angela Williams
Special Education Advocate
I am a former special education teacher, with experience in public and therapeutic day schools.
- Autism, Behavioral Support, Developmental Delay, Learning Disabilities
- Contact for rate
- Meets in person or by video
Virtual · based in Hawthorne, NJ · works with Pennsylvania schools
Dalia Rodriguez
IEP Consultant, School Social Worker, Advocacy
I am a Child Study Team School Social Worker, with a Master of Social Work from Fordham University. I have core competencies in special education law, mental health, and behavioral health.
- Autism, Behavioral Support, Developmental Delay, Intellectual Disability
- Contact for rate
- Meets by video or phone
Virtual · based in Bloomington, IL · works with Pennsylvania schools
Jade Adkins
Founder & Advocate
Jade is a former special education teacher who has taught everything from pre-k all the way to transition classrooms with students up to age 21.
- Autism, Behavioral Support, Developmental Delay, Intellectual Disability
- Contact for rate
- Meets in person or by video
Virtual · based in Wesley Chapel, FL · works with Pennsylvania schools
Angela Picardi
Special Education Advocate
With 24 years of experience in the K-12 sector, I serves as a Student Support Specialist specializing in academic and behavioral ESE services.
- Autism, Behavioral Support, Intellectual Disability, Learning Disabilities
- Contact for rate
- Meets in person or by video
Virtual · based in San Antonio, TX · works with Pennsylvania schools
Nicole Santiago
FamilyADDventures.com
Nicole Santiago is a learning specialist and an advocate (IEP coach). She is a member of COPAA.org and ensures special education students receive the most appropriate educational services possible.
- Autism Spectrum, Behavioral Support, Learning Disabilities, IDEA
- Contact for rate
- Meets in person or by video
Virtual · based in Bowie, MD · works with Pennsylvania schools
Justine Elliott
Independent Education Consultant
I am a licensed school counselor with extensive experience supporting students with IEPs and 504 plans, providing academic and career counseling, and guiding families through critical educational…
- Contact for rate
- Meets in person or by video
Virtual · based in Lamar, CO · works with Pennsylvania schools
Jordan Kemp
Special Education Advocate
I’ve been a science teacher, a Director of Financial Aid, and a Dean of Students at a rural community college — always at the table with students and families navigating systems not built for them.
- From $95 per hour
- Meets in person or by video
Pennsylvania evaluations: from verbal request to PTE and Evaluation Report
When a parent makes an oral evaluation request to a professional employee or administrator, Pennsylvania generally requires the school to provide a Permission to Evaluate form within 10 calendar days. After written consent, the Evaluation Report is generally due within 60 calendar days, excluding the defined summer interval.
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Make the request in writing even though oral requests have protection
A written request creates a clearer record. Pennsylvania requires a PTE within 10 calendar days after a qualifying oral request, but a written request helps avoid disputes about what was asked and when.
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Review the PTE before signing
The proposed evaluation should cover all suspected areas and identify the types of assessment or review the team plans to use.
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Track the 60-calendar-day ER deadline
The Evaluation Report generally must be completed and provided within 60 calendar days after written consent. The period from the day after the last day of the spring term through the day before the first day of the next fall term is not counted.
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Use the ER to prepare for eligibility and the IEP
Review whether the ER identifies needs, supports its eligibility conclusion, and provides useful recommendations for present levels, goals, services, behavior supports, and placement.
Exceptions and extensions
- The calendar days from the day after the last day of the spring term through the day before the first day of the next fall term are not counted for the Chapter 14 initial evaluation timeline.
- Federal parent-availability and transfer exceptions may apply in limited circumstances.
- Charter schools are governed by Chapter 711, which contains comparable but separately codified requirements.
Filing a Pennsylvania Bureau of Special Education complaint
Pennsylvania’s Bureau of Special Education investigates signed written complaints alleging violations of IDEA or applicable state special education requirements. ODR separately manages mediation and due process.
What the complaint must include
- A signed written allegation that a public agency violated a federal or state special education requirement.
- Facts supporting each allegation and child-specific information when applicable.
- A proposed resolution to the extent known and available.
- A copy provided to the school district, charter school, or other public agency at the same time the complaint is filed with BSE.
Decision timeline
BSE generally completes the investigation and issues the Complaint Investigation Report within 60 calendar days.
The timeline may be extended for exceptional circumstances or when the parties agree to extend it to participate in mediation or another dispute-resolution process.
Who licenses advocates in Pennsylvania
Certification programs exist and some advocates hold them. None of them is issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Bureau of Special Education, and none of them is required to sit in an IEP meeting.
Advocates who work Philadelphia and Pittsburgh cases see the same state rules twice a week, and repetition inside one state is the practice worth paying for.
What an advocate cannot do
An advocate cannot make a district agree. What moves a district is the record you build, and a good advocate spends more hours on the record than in the room.
What worked for a family in Philadelphia may not fit yours, and the first thing worth asking an advocate is what is different about your file.
Other dispute-resolution options
A state complaint is one path. Mediation, facilitation, due process, OCR, and local escalation each solve a different problem.
- ConsultLine
- Parents who need state-level information about Pennsylvania special education rights and procedures ConsultLine provides information and can help parents understand available options, but it is not the parent’s private advocate.
- ODR mediation
- Parties willing to negotiate a voluntary agreement The Office for Dispute Resolution provides mediation at no cost to the parties.
- ODR due process
- Formal disputes concerning identification, evaluation, placement, or FAPE Due process is separate from the BSE complaint system and may require legal or expert representation.
- IEP facilitation or resolution meeting support
- Teams seeking structured early resolution Availability and format may vary; the neutral process professional does not decide the student’s program.
- Chapter 15 or OCR process
- Section 504-type or disability-discrimination concerns Chapter 15 Service Agreement disputes and federal civil-rights complaints follow procedures distinct from a Chapter 14 IDEA complaint.
Local advocates and video advocates
3 advocates on this page are based in Pennsylvania. The others work with families here by video.
Distance is a scheduling problem and not a legal one. Meetings run by video whenever the parent and the school both agree to it.
Remote IEP advocacy is allowed under IDEA
Federal rules put no distance requirement on who a parent may bring. Your advocate does not have to live in Pennsylvania.
Distance changes the cost and not the law. Somebody working remotely bills for reading and for the meeting, and never for the drive.
How it works
How Find Parent Advocates works
Find Parent Advocates is a free directory, not a referral service. You browse profiles, compare rates and reviews, and contact the advocate you choose. We do not assign anyone to you.
Browse
Browse by city or take the statewide list. The rules are the same either way.
Contact
Write to two people rather than six. The first email should carry the district and the meeting date.
Hire
Approve the hours in advance. Most advocates will not bill past an agreed number without asking.
Work together
Keep the timeline updated as things happen. It is the document every later step is built from.
Find Parent Advocates is not a party to your contractual relationship with the advocate. We are not responsible for the fees or services provided.
Pennsylvania IEP and Section 504 advocate FAQ
Answers about hiring a special education advocate in Pennsylvania, including cost, timing, virtual support, and Section 504 help.
How quickly must Pennsylvania provide a PTE after a verbal request?
Pennsylvania generally requires the school to provide a Permission to Evaluate form within 10 calendar days after a qualifying oral request to a professional employee or administrator.
Does summer count in Pennsylvania’s 60-day evaluation timeline?
For Chapter 14 evaluations, the period from the day after the last day of the spring term through the day before the first day of the next fall term is not counted.
What is the difference between Chapter 14 and Chapter 15?
Chapter 14 governs IDEA special education for eligible students. Chapter 15 provides Pennsylvania protections and Service Agreements for protected handicapped students under a Section 504-type framework.
Can I appeal a Pennsylvania BSE complaint report?
The current school-age Part B complaint materials do not publish a general BSE reconsideration or administrative appeal process. Mediation and due process through ODR are separate options.
How much does an IEP advocate cost in Pennsylvania?
Most advocates on this directory charge $75 to $150 per hour. A standard cycle with two hours of prep and two hours in the meeting runs about $400. Travel and extra meetings cost more.
Do I need a lawyer or an advocate for my child?
No. Advocates prepare for meetings, read the records and negotiate with the district. Attorneys file due process complaints and appear at hearings, which an advocate cannot do.
Official special education resources in Pennsylvania
These links connect you to your state education agency and complaint options. Advocates on this page can also explain what each step means for your child.
Sources for the Pennsylvania rules on this page
- 22 Pa. Code 14.123, Evaluation (22 Pa. Code 14.123(b))
- PDE state complaints and dispute resolution
- 22 Pa. Code §14.123 Evaluation
- 22 Pa. Code §14.107 Complaint procedure
- Pennsylvania Chapter 15 implementation
- Pennsylvania ConsultLine
Last reviewed 2026-08-02.
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