2026 Parent Scholarship Application

The Pennsylvania Bureau of Special Education and PaTTAN are pleased to offer parent scholarships. Apply today to learn about recent research and best practices in special education, alongside educators and service providers who teach our children.

FULL SCHOLARSHIP / ATTEND IN-PERSON- covers registration fee and hotel room for applicants traveling 50 or more miles from home location to Hershey Lodge, per Google maps.  (limited number of scholarships available) 

PARTIAL SCHOLARSHIP / ATTEND IN PERSON - covers registration fee  (limited number of scholarships available)

VIRTUAL SCHOLARSHIP / ATTEND VIRTUALLY - covers registration fee

Please Note: Scholarships do not cover travel expenses or childcare. All participants are responsible for their own transportation.

Who can apply for a PDE Conference Scholarship?

Pennsylvania residents who have school-age children with a current IEP.

*Educators employed by any of the following: school, district, charter school, or Intermediate Unit, (and eligible for professional development funds) and those employed by a Parent Training and Information Center (PTI), Community Parent Resource Center (CPRC), or other federally- funded educational or advocacy organization are not eligible for a scholarship and should seek funding through their employer/organization.

                        Contact us: parentscholarship@pattan.net

PDE Conference:  February 25 - Februray 27, 2026

Location: Hershey Lodge and Convention Center, Hershey, PA

 

Steps to Attend Conference and Apply for a Scholarship:

1. Register for the PDE Conference with a PaTTAN account (each applicant must register separately)

2. Make your hotel reservation (if you are a applying for a FULL scholarship)      

3. Complete and submit this application by January 5, 2026, 4:00pm.

 * If you are not selected for a scholarship, you will be notified and can cancel your registration, any hotel reservation, or choose to self-pay.

Conference Registration Instructions:  

• EACH person applying must register separately to attend the conference.
• Each person applying needs a PaTTAN account to register. You will need to either log in as part of registration or create an account before registering.
• Choose either IN PERSON attendance registration or VIRTUAL attendance registration link below.
• In registration, be sure to click the + next to each day to choose individual sessions to attend
• Our system now accepts online payment; however, payment is not required at time of registration. Select Check as payment type and type Parent Scholarship as check #.
• You should get an email confirming you registered for the conference.  

> New to PaTTAN? Don't have an account? : [Click here to create an account]

                              

> Register for in person conference: click here for in-person attendance

> Register for virtual conference: click here for virtual attendance

Hotel Reservation Instructions (for FULL Scholarship)

• Make your reservations ASAP as Hershey Lodge rooms fill up quickly for the conference. (link below)
• Hotel accomodations of one room will be provided to eligible full scholarship recipients.
• You will need to provide a valid credit card to reserve your room. ( Prior to hotel checkout, the room charge for the approved scholarship nights will be moved to the PaTTAN account, and only personal incidentals will be charged to your card.  If you cannot attend the conference and do not cancel your room reservation per the Hershey Lodge cancellation policy, your credit card will be charged for your room).
• You will need your hotel confirmation number to complete the application.

>  Hershey Lodge reservations: Click here to book reservation

Please note: if the room block at Hershey is full, enter "sold out" where the confirmation number is requested in this application.

Next: Start Application

Contact us: parentscholarship@pattan.net

Contact us: parentscholarship@pattan.net