TEA SpEd Newsletter

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Texas Education Agency
Correspondence

Special Education Newsletter Update

October 30, 2019

Male students working on a scientific model

Together, we are committed to high expectations and strong systems that achieve equitable outcomes for every student with a disability.


Small and Rural Schools Network

Texas has a significant number of students being served in small and rural local education agencies (LEAs). Over 38% of the 1207 LEAs in Texas are classified as rural, and over half have an enrollment of fewer than 1000 students. The Small and Rural Schools Network (SRSN) was established to help these LEAs meet the educational challenges that are unique to their size and region, and to support a more equitable level of services to students with disabilities. Region 15 Education Service Center in San Angelo, was awarded the SRSN grant and will lead the network...

 

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Senate Bill 500 – Fiscal Supports to LEAs

We are excited to share information about additional funding that will soon be available to local education agencies (LEAs) in Texas.  Senate Bill 500 (SB 500) passed by the 86th Texas Legislature, provides an additional $50 million of state special education funding for reimbursing school districts for the following special education expenses: initial evaluations (including independent educational evaluation requests), compensatory services, and extended school year services.  Specifically, this grant is designed to…

 

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Grants for Students with Autism- Applications Open

At the direction of 86th Texas legislature, TEA will award grants to Texas school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to implement innovative services for students with autism ages 3-9. Selected programs must incorporate evidence-based design, data on student achievement, meaningful inclusion, parental support, the use of technology, and the ability to replicate the program for students statewide. The selection process will prioritize collaborations between multiple districts and/or charter schools. Programs must reflect the diversity of the state. Grants will provide up to $1 million per year to as many as ten grantees, with possible renewal for a second year.  Additional information and applications are now available on the TEA Grant Opportunities webpage. 

 

Grant Opportunities

 


Serving Students in Special Education who are Pregnant

The current version of the Student Attendance Accounting Handbook, specifically Chapter 4, Special Education, and Chapter 9, Pregnancy-Related Services (PRS), contains detailed information on attendance and serving students in special education who are pregnant.

If your district has a PRS program, it must provide access to the services offered through the PRS program to students served by special education who become pregnant. An Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) committee and PRS program…

 

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Let's Review and Coming Soon

Fall is a busy season.  Don’t fall out of touch with what is going on in the Division of Special Education.  

Look at what you may have missed or need to review that came out from the Division of Special Education in October and what is coming up in November. 

 

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