Special Education Updates
Texas A&M Parent Project
The Center on Disability and Development at Texas A&M University would like to offer training at no cost to Texas parents and caregivers of children up to age 22 with core features of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Parents and caregivers will learn how to improve their child's communication skills. This service is provided by a grant project entitled Coach to Communicate (C2C), sponsored by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
The training includes a 1-hour self-paced webinar that teaches behavioral strategies to increase communication use in children with ASD. Once complete, parents can choose to be paired with a coach for a more intensive 12-week training specific to their child’s communication needs (again, at no cost to parents). Shorter options of 2-5 coaching sessions are also available for parents, if better suited to their needs. Coaching is offered in English and Spanish.
Supplemental Special Education Services (SSES) Program
Supplemental Special Education Services (SSES) are on-line accounts for eligible parents/caregivers of students with significant and complex disabilities that have been impacted by COVID-19 school closures. Families of students with eligible disabilities can use the on-line accounts to obtain special educational resources and supplies and/or services such as additional speech therapy or other specific services. SSES credits are up to $1,500 per student to be used to supplement what otherwise happens in school to help students continue to make educational progress.
The SSES program has specific eligibility criteria please make sure that you have verified that your student meets the eligibility criteria by reviewing the Program Overview and Eligibility Requirements at the SSES website with the Texas Education Agency.
A Parent's Guide to Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) & Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) from the Student-Centered Transitions Network
The SCTN's new resource, A Parent's Guide to Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) and Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE), is now available. This guide provides information, explanations, and resource links to assist parents with understanding what is meant by ECI/ECSE and what options are available to them.
This guide includes tips & information for parents on:
- ECI/ECSE Eligibility;
- What a Transition Conference looks like from ECI to Preschool
- The evaluation process and;
- What the Continuum of Services should look like
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Fact Sheet
Texas Education Agency (TEA) Notice to Families (as required by Senate Bill 139)
The notices linked below contain information regarding:
- Changes in reporting requirements regarding special education enrollment
- The rights of a child regarding the provision of special education services under both state and federal law
- The process and procedures for initiating a referral for evaluation for special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and TEC Sec. 29.004.
- Where to find local policies and procedures related to initiating a referral for evaluation under IDEA
- Links to additional special education resources for families
Information for parents provided by the Texas Education Agency (TEA):
- Delayed or Denied Evaluations & Compensatory Services
- Evaluaciones Retrasadas o Denegadas & Servicios Compensatorios