The Department of Special Education has recently posted a SY 20-21 Students with Disabilities Planning Supports Guidebook on the COVID-19 Support: Special Education web page. Check out the guidebook as well as additional resources located on this site.
Trending Topics in Special Education Monitoring is a triannual resource for special education administrators to ensure timely access to relevant content. The second issue of Trending Topics includes topics that were identified based on the results of Differentiated Monitoring and Support (DMS) activities completed during the 2019-2020 school year. This issue’s topics address common questions and compliance challenges identified through monitoring, including properly constituted Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) committees, Individualized Education Program (IEP) development, and secondary transition for students with disabilities.
The Department of Review and Support is excited to launch a new series of interactive eLearning modules to support local education agencies (LEAs) in engaging with the DMS system. The first module in the series, Differentiated Monitoring and Support System Overview, is available now on the Department of Review and Support Resources web page.
Study guide materials are also available for download or print to supplement each eLearning module in the DMS series. LEAs selected to engage in DMS activities, including cyclical and targeted reviews, and LEAs who wish to learn more about the DMS system are highly encouraged to participate in these training modules.
All LEAs across the state will engage in a cyclical review through the DMS system scheduled across a six-year period. Cyclical reviews determine LEA compliance with federal and state laws and assist LEAs in resolving specific issues or concerns that impact services and outcomes for students with disabilities.
Full schedules for Cycle 1 through Cycle 6 are published and now available on the Differentiated Monitoring and Support: Cyclical Monitoring web page.
Cyclical schedules are posted in two-year increments. In addition to the published schedules, LEAs participating in cyclical monitoring also receive correspondence from the TEA at the start of the school year in which monitoring activities are scheduled to occur.
A training video titled “Special Education ARD Guidance and Contingency Plans During Remote Learning July 2020" and PDF of the power point presentation is now available on the TEA Recent Guidance web page and TEA's YouTube site. This training video includes important information about documenting shifts between face-to-face and remote learning during ARD meetings and communicating this information to families.
Effective inclusion practices help students with disabilities avoid the long-term costs of segregation, and improve their opportunities for learning, employment, independent living, and social engagement. The Inclusion Works! Virtual Conference, hosted by The Arc of Texas with support from TEA, is for educators, administrators, families, paraprofessionals, college students, and anyone interested in learning ways to support all students with disabilities in the general education setting. Save on registration if you register by September 9.
TIER is looking for 10 campuses across Texas to participate in a cohort to receive support and guidance with the implementation of Multi-tiered Systems of Support (MTSS). This targeted support will begin with a focus on the foundational elements of MTSS and leadership.
The TEA has extended the deadline for applications for the Special Education Reading Academies Expert Group to August 31, 2020. TEA is seeking applicants to serve on an expert group to review Special Education Reading Academy content and provide special education content expertise. More information about the application process for this expert group is located on TEA's Special Education website.
The Inclusion in Texas Network will provide unlimited access to the ATIA Learning Resource Library. The ATIA is the premier organization for manufacturers, sellers and providers of assistive technology (AT)—products, equipment and systems that enhance learning, working and daily living for persons with disabilities. All courses are accessible, include closed captioning, are easy to use, and can be accessed anywhere, anytime, on any device.
The Texas subscription will be available on September 1, 2020. Stay tuned for more information!
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