The Berks County Intermediate Unit is committed to the community – both to our local community here in Berks County and to the greater community that is the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
The BCIU has many community partners that make our programming possible while also inviting our community members to serve on committees throughout the year.
The Berks County Intermediate Unit does not exist in a vacuum. We believe it’s our mission to serve side by side with non-profit organizations and educational entities as they go on to provide Berks County’s families and young people with programs and services vital to creating a thriving community in which to work, play, and learn.
Along with our 28 partner Intermediate Units across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the BCIU partners with non-profits and organizations that help drive the mission of serving our students.
The Task Force functions as an independent organization of parents and other residents of Berks County who are interested in working with school districts, IU14, and community agencies to further the rights of students with special needs. The primary purpose of the Right to Education Local Task Force is to make recommendations that assist in improving, strengthening, expanding, and monitoring programs and services for school-age children with special needs. It also serves as a vehicle for professional development opportunities according to parent and participant interest.
The Right to Education Task Force meetings are open to the public. The Local Task Force is facilitated by elected officials and the Berks County Intermediate Unit. In addition, the Local Task Force is supported by the 18 Berks County school districts.
The Berks Early Learning Coalition (BELC) exists to ensure all Berks County pre-kindergarten children who are considered at risk have access to high-quality early learning education. BELC promotes Berks County business partnerships and community connections that support pre-kindergarten early learning.
The Coalition’s objectives include:
The Berks Initiative for School Attendance (BISA) provides professionals who work with children who are chronically absent a means to address the critical issue of school attendance rapidly, consistently, and successfully, within the schools and courts of Berks County.
BISA seeks to reengage students to increase graduation rates and better prepare them for their future. We focus on children who need the most assistance through periodic evaluation of the program to ensure that it continues to meet the needs of the schools and courts.