DEPARTMENT NEWS
Revised TAC 89.1050 and 89.1055 will be published soon in the Texas Register with effective dates. Then, the updated Standards-Based IEP Process asynchronous TEALearn courses will be available. There will be four separate 3-hour courses:
- Course #1: Foundational Concepts and Student Data
- Course #2: Developing the Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance (PLAAFP)
- Course #3: Drafting Measurable Annual Academic and Functional Goals
- Course #4: Determining Specially Designed Instruction (SDI) and Data Collection for Progress Monitoring
Special education teachers and service providers are encouraged to take these asynchronous courses or attend face-to-face or virtual training sessions at their regional ESCs.
Learn how TEA’s TIER Initiative supports effective Multi-tiered System of Supports (MTSS) implementation in Texas schools. Explore free training, practical tools, and evidence-based resources that help educators provide academic, behavioral, and mental health support for all students. Visit the Texas SPED Support Resource Library to access the Overview of the Tiered Interventions Using Evidence-Based Research (TIER) Initiative and begin exploring available training and implementation resources.
The Understanding Accommodations and Modifications document provides a foundational understanding of the difference between accommodations and modifications that may be included in some Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). Context is also given for students with Section 504 Accommodations Plans, and/or linguistic accommodations for emergent bilingual (EB) students. Throughout this document you will find linked resources for additional, more specific guidance.
Get ready for Learning Ally’s Race to Read Competition, running from August 31st to October 30th. This dynamic, school-wide challenge is designed to boost student reading and foster a love for learning across campuses. Current districts and schools are automatically entered, with no registration needed.
Let’s Race to Read and make a difference in students’ lives!
For free educator resources, including educator coaching sessions, professional learning, and connecting with your District/School Account Manager, visit the Texas - Learning Ally
TEA has partnered with Learning Ally to offer free access to human-read audiobooks for K-12 public schools and open enrollment charters. Educators can get started by enrolling for their free account through the Texas Funded Institutional Membership Application.
The 2024-2026 Innovative Services for Students with Autism Grants were awarded to 10 localLEAs across Texas and have directly impacted 32 LEAs due to many grantees collaborating across multiple LEAs. The purpose of this grant is to increase LEA's capacity to implement innovative programs that effectively serve students with autism ages 3-21. This project will result in effective, scalable models that can be replicated in other areas of the state.
Read about the impact this grant has had on Mercedes ISD:
The Innovative Services for Students with Autism Grant awarded to Mercedes ISD has provided significant opportunities to enhance educational programming and support for students with autism while strengthening the capacity of our educators. Through this funding, the district has expanded access to evidence-based practices, specialized instructional resources, assistive technology, and professional development opportunities that benefit students, teachers, paraprofessionals, and families.
The following outcomes were achieved through the Innovative Services Grant:
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Sensory Motor Labs were created to assist students with self-regulation, sensory processing, and readiness for learning.
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Structured Learning and Teaching Environment (SLTE) hands-on training sessions were provided for students on the autism spectrum, as well as general education teachers, special education teachers, and paraprofessionals to strengthen implementation of evidence-based instructional practices.
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Make-and-Take professional development sessions were offered, allowing educators to create and take back practical instructional materials for immediate classroom use.
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Family engagement sessions with Make-and-Take opportunities were provided to equip families with strategies, visual supports, and resources that can be used at home to support their child’s learning, communication, and independence.
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Beginning-of-the-year Educating Individuals with Autism training sessions with Make-and-Take opportunities is offered to general and special education teachers and paraprofessionals to build knowledge of autism characteristics, evidence-based practices, and classroom supports while providing ready-to-use instructional materials.
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Touchscreen devices and communication applications were purchased to support student communication, engagement, and access to instruction.
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Technology resources for teacher use were acquired to ensure equitable access to devices, instructional materials, and learning supports for students with autism.
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Work-based learning equipment was purchased to provide students with authentic opportunities to develop employability, vocational, and independent living skills.
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Instructional materials and task-based learning resources were acquired to support individualized instruction, skill development, and student success across educational settings.
Impact
These investments have enhanced the educational experience of students with autism by increasing access to specialized supports while equipping educators, paraprofessionals, and families with the training, tools, and resources necessary to provide high-quality instruction and meaningful learning opportunities across school, home, and community settings.
Connecting behavior to the TEKS just got easier! Introducing the TEKS Behavior Alignment Tool. This comprehensive resource helps educators align expectations for student behavior with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) across all grade levels. Spanning early childhood through high school, the tool includes multiple content areas, such as ELA, Health Education, Social Studies, Fine Arts, Physical Education, Science, and Technology Applications, to highlight how academic standards connect to observable social, emotional, and behavioral skills. Organized by developmental progression, the TEKS Behavior Alignment Tool supports instructional planning, classroom management, and systems-level behavior supports.
To further support implementation, the TEKS Behavior Alignment Tool includes three companion guides tailored for Educators, Campus Administrators, and ARD Committees, offering practical guidance for using the tool and developing effective, aligned behavior supports.
State Spotlight: How Texas Used Coaching to Impact Outcomes
This state spotlight from the National Center for Systemic Improvement (NCSI) focuses on Texas’s implementation effort to improve teacher practice and student outcomes, by embedding and sustaining an effective coaching framework across the state. Of critical importance for TEA was to take a strategic approach to implementing aligned coaching across several schools, districts, and regions, which can be extremely challenging. Some of the challenges include: ensuring that the coaching is based on the most effective and research-based practices; providing coaches with ongoing, high-quality professional development; and systematically collecting data and using that data for continuous improvement. This spotlight highlights the strategies they have employed and their impact on implementing a coaching framework to build teacher capacity and achieve improved student outcomes.
Remember, you can find information about TEA trainings that include a coaching component on Texas SPED Support. These trainings include implementation support delivered by experts at each regional ESC to help educators apply what they’ve learned with confidence and fidelity. Coaching provides personalized, job‑embedded support grounded in four research‑based practices proven to strengthen instruction.
2-Part Academic Progress Monitoring Workshop Series
Are you ready to strengthen your skill using progress monitoring data to drive meaningful outcomes for students? Join National Center on Intensive Intervention (NCII) for an interactive two-part virtual series designed to help you confidently plan, collect, and analyze academic progress monitoring data as part of the data-based individualization (DBI) process. Across the series, participants will deepen their understanding of progress monitoring and will learn about tools to support implementation. These 75-minute sessions are ideal for special educators and interventionists who want to refine their use of progress monitoring in practice. Learn more about this workshop series on the NCII website.
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