Department News
Beginning on November 1, 2021, the SSES program will expand eligibility to include all students served by special education who attend a Texas public school. Funding for the expanded criteria will begin in January 2022. We encourage parents of eligible students to apply now, but we also want parents to know that new applicants may not receive an award notice until January 2022. Visit the SSES Homepage to apply and for additional program information.
The Texas Complex Access Network (TX CAN) has added a series of videos for administrators to their video library. TX CAN’s administrator series focuses on effective practices and offers suggestions and resources for supporting educators working with students with significant cognitive disabilities.
Per Texas Education Code (TEC) §29.0112, the Transition and Employment Guide is for students enrolled in special education programs and their parents to provide information on statewide services and programs that assist in the transition to life outside of the public school system. Spanish and American Sign Language (ASL) versions are coming soon.
TEC §29.011 requires updated minimum training guidelines for Transition and Employment Designees (TEDs) at least once every four years with stakeholder input. A TED asynchronous training is now available to fulfill this requirement.
Literacy for ALL virtual synchronous professional development is available through TEA! Many students in grades 4-12 lack proficiency in foundational reading skills. This is the reason many older students cannot comprehend text. The Literacy for ALL training addresses the needs of those students. Participants will build knowledge and understanding of how to utilize the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework to proactively identify and address instructional and environmental barriers. Participants will also learn how to design instructional supports, including assistive technology, to accommodate for the impact of the disability in order to improve student achievement in reading. This virtual professional development will be offered through Zoom on November 11th and 18th from 8:30 – 4:00. Participants can earn 12 CEUs for this training.
The Texas Complex Access Network (TX CAN) Virtual Institute is an exclusive event for people who have earned 3 badges by completing 3 TX CAN online courses by December 31. The 2022 Institute will open February 14 – March 10 and culminate in a synchronous session on March 11. This Institute addresses the need for increased opportunities and access through sessions that will provide all stakeholders with information to broaden their own understanding of the capabilities of students with complex access needs, and impart effective strategies to address those needs.
Gather your district teams and save the date for the first virtual Texas Collaboration Institute hosted by the Student Centered Transitions Network (SCTN) in partnership with the National Technical Assistance Center on Transition: The Collaborative (NTACT: C). District teams comprised of Special Education (SPED), Career & Technical Education (CTE), and Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) will begin the discussion on partnerships that change the results and lives of students with disabilities. Join us, October 28th from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
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