We are seeking a high-leverage, mobility-focused Physical Therapist (PT) to join our clinical and related services infrastructure. Moving completely away from isolated, pull-out schedules that strip kids of learning hours, we implement an organic, clinical push-in paradigm. You will operate on a circuit or site basis, partnering directly inside embedded classrooms and therapeutic labs alongside special educators and Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs).
Your ultimate mission is to unlock complete environmental access and gross motor independence for students moving through our high-acuity pilots (primarily serving youth with Autism, Emotional Disturbance, and Multiple Disabilities Support needs) .
Core Responsibilities
Push-In Special Education Delivery - Embed gross motor strategies, structural alignment, and spatial navigation support directly into natural classroom learning environments.
High-Acuity Positioning Care - Adjust positioning for learning, gross motor access, and physical safety for students with severe Multiple Disabilities Support (MDS) constraints without interrupting active academic participation.
Adaptive Gear Customization - Assess, deploy, and monitor specialized physical access suites, utilizing heavy positioning assets such as standers, gait trainers, and custom therapeutic seating.
Community-Based Instruction (CBI) Synergy - Partner with transition coordinators (for ages 14–22) to evaluate and train students in navigating public spaces, street thresholds, architectural barriers, and SEPTA transit lines safely.
Clinical Rounding Collaboration - Engage in scheduled weekly clinical rounds with core instructional triads to ensure physical mobility targets reinforce a student's holistic behavior plan.
IEP Lifecycle Assessment Input - Deliver precise gross motor screenings and specialized physical evaluations to contribute data to native Multi-Disciplinary Evaluations (MDE), Evaluation Reports (ER), and Re-evaluation Reports (RR).
Fidelity Log Coordination - Protect data integrity parameters by tracking and time-stamping every single provided related service minute directly inside the district's secure EasyIEP module.
SBAP Fiscal Reporting - Maintain flawless session narratives that document medical necessity to align with federal School-Based Access Program (SBAP) parameters, and fully participate in state Random Moment Time Studies (RMTS) .
Position Qualifications
Must hold an active, non-expired license as a Physical Therapist issued by the Pennsylvania State Board of Physical Therapy under the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs (BPOA).
Must possess an active Educational Specialist certification issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE).
Acuity and Demographic Familiarity - Must have proven experience navigating the motor, postural, and physical challenges typical of neurodivergent or medically fragile pediatric segments in urban school settings.
Technical Interface Literacy - Must have functional hands-on familiarity inputting data points into web-based educational platforms (EasyIEP or equivalent cloud systems).
Team-First Orientation - Must have exceptional capability to coordinate across fluid professional configurations, honoring the School District of Philadelphia as the ultimate decision-making authority .
Personnel Safety and Onboarding Guardrails
In strict accordance with Pennsylvania law and School District of Philadelphia Policy 818, a verified clear-to-work status is a non-negotiable prerequisite prior to entry. Applicants must pass through our compliance vault, providing hard copies of the following clearances (which must be less than one year old at the time of hire) :
- Act 114 - FBI Fingerprint Criminal History Check (via IdentoGO PDE portal)
- Act 34 - Pennsylvania State Police Criminal History Check (PATCH)
- Act 151 - Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance
- Act 168 - Sexual Misconduct/Abuse Disclosure Release forms from all previous school employers
- Act 126 - Verified certificate of completion for Mandated Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting Training
Pay: $50.00 - $60.00 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 403(b)
- Continuing education credits
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
Work Location: In person
