August 2021 Special Education Newsletter

Texas Education Agency

August 2021

Special Education Newsletter

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 Announcements

  • Trending Topics in Special Education Monitoring: Issue 4 addresses common questions and compliance challenges identified through monitoring and can be found HERE
  • HB 4545 passed in the 87th Legislative session and became effective immediately for the 2021-2022 school year. Visit TEA's Accelerated Learning Resources webpage for comprehensive information, including Frequently Asked Questions that are updated on a rolling basis and include guidance for Local Education Agencies (LEAs) to support the implementation of HB 4545 requirements.
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 Upcoming Dates

The Supplemental Special Education Services (SSES) program is extended thru the 2023-2024 school year after the passing of Senate Bill 1716.  The deadline to apply for an SSES grant is no longer September 30, 2021. There are SSES accounts still available; we encourage you to apply quickly as this is a first come, first serve grant. 

Department News

A Parent's Guide to ECI and ECSE

This guide provides information, explanations, and resource links to assist parents with understanding what is meant by Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) and Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) and what options are available to them. It also includes tips and information on ECI and ECSE eligibility, what a transition conference looks like from ECI to Preschool, the evaluation process, and the continuum of services.  

Go to Guide

Senate Bill 712 - Reminder

SB 712, enacted by the 86th Texas Legislature and signed into law by Governor Abbott on June 10, 2019, made changes, effective immediately, to the Texas Education Code (TEC), Section 1, Subchapter A, Chapter 37, by adding § 37.0023. TEC § 37.0023 defines and describes “aversive techniques” and prohibits their use on students enrolled in Texas public schools. A summary of this law and frequently asked questions is located on the Special Education Recent TEA Guidance webpage. 

Go to FAQ 

Question and Answer Document: IEP Measurable Annual Goals

As a reminder, this question and answer document has been updated and is intended to provide guidance and best practices to LEAs regarding ways to approach writing annual individualized education program (IEP) goals that ensure involvement and progress in the student’s grade-level academic standards. This is also known as a standards-based IEP process.

Review Q&A

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