DCIU Celebrates Major Expansion and Renovation of Marple Education Center

The Delaware County Intermediate Unit (DCIU) celebrated the major expansion and renovation of its Marple Education Center on Wednesday, September 9, with a ribbon-cutting and tours of newly renovated and expanded educational spaces.

The project was driven by significant growth in programs serving young children, students with specialized needs, and future healthcare professionals across the region. The expansion provides additional classrooms, therapy and evaluation spaces, vocational and transition learning areas, staff workspaces, improved accessibility, security enhancements, and other campus improvements designed to meet both current and future needs.

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"DCIU has always had a responsibility to look ahead, anticipate what our students, families, school districts, and communities will need, and have the courage to build for it," said Dr. Maria Edelberg, former DCIU Executive Director. "What began as a vision in 2018 is now a reality and I am incredibly proud of what we accomplished together and grateful to everyone who believed in this vision and helped make it a reality. We built the new and expanded Marple Education Center with purpose, for the people we serve, and most importantly, for the future."

DCIU's Preschool Early Intervention program has experienced significant and sustained growth, serving approximately 1,150 children in 2000–01 and more than 3,100 children annually by 2024–25. DCIU has also seen increased referrals and growing needs among young children requiring autism, behavioral, communication, sensory, and other specialized supports. The Marple expansion creates additional Early Intervention classrooms, therapy and evaluation spaces, and family-centered areas designed to better support young learners and their families.

"Maintaining state-of-the-art educational spaces is especially important when serving our youngest learners and students with specialized needs," said Dr. Jim Scanlon, DCIU Interim Executive Director. "Research on school facilities has linked the quality of educational environments with student engagement and learning. For students with sensory and other special needs, features involving acoustics, lighting, accessibility, flexible spaces, and areas for sensory regulation can be extremely important."

The expansion also reflects the continued growth of DCIU's Practical Nursing Program. In January 2026, the program moved into a new, state-of-the-art facility designed specifically for adult learners and the growing needs of the program. The new facility includes two additional classrooms and another simulation lab, increasing DCIU's capacity as it explores future night and weekend program options. Practical Nursing cohorts are currently filled more than a year in advance, reflecting strong demand for the program and its role in strengthening the region's healthcare workforce pipeline.

DCIU's School Age programs also gained significant new capacity through the renovation. Four additional classrooms were created, allowing DCIU to accept more students from Delaware County school districts who require specialized supports. Existing School Age classrooms, hallways, and therapy spaces were refreshed with new flooring and paint, and a new playground provides additional opportunities for outdoor activity, social development, and physical well-being.

A new Transition Support Lab gives students hands-on opportunities to develop vocational, transition, and entrepreneurship skills. Using tools such as a laser cutter, Cricut, and T-shirt press, students can move through the full entrepreneurial process — from developing an idea and learning to operate equipment safely to producing products, managing materials, fulfilling orders, and exploring customer service and sales.

Honored guests, including DCIU Board members, superintendents and school board members from across Delaware County, Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon, Senator Tim Kearney, Marple Township Commissioners, and members of the Marple Township Police Department and Broomall Fire Department, toured several of the newly expanded spaces, including:

• Practical Nursing simulation labs
• An advanced labor and delivery manikin
• Early Intervention classrooms and therapy spaces
• The Transition Support Lab
• Newly renovated School Age spaces

The Marple Facilities Project represents a long-term investment in DCIU's ability to respond to growing and changing needs across Delaware County. By expanding capacity and creating modern, purpose-built learning environments, DCIU is positioning its programs to continue serving students, families, school districts, educators, and future healthcare professionals for years to come.