Announcements

REMINDER: Senate Bill 89 Requirements

As a result of Senate Bill (SB) 89, the COVID-19 Special Education Recovery Act, Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) committees must complete a required supplement as a written statement included in the IEP of each child enrolled in the local education agency (LEA) during the 2019-2020 or 2020-2021 school years by May 1, 2022. For details about the specific requirements ARD committees must document related to SB 89, you can: 

• Refer to the “To the Administrator Addressed" (TAA) correspondence from July 22, 2021:  Senate Bill 89 Implementation Overview | Texas Education Agency or, 
• Refer to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) published in September 2021 that provides additional information regarding the requirements of the act: Senate Bill 89 Frequently Asked Questions (texas.gov).

REMINDER: Two Amazing Grant Opportunities for LEAs

(Application windows are in the upcoming dates section of this newsletter.) 

• The Dyslexia Grant Award Program aims to increase local capacity to appropriately serve students with dyslexia and related disorders. LEAs may apply for funding to provide high-quality training to classroom teachers and administrators in meeting the needs of students with dyslexia and related disorders and/or training to intervention staff resulting in appropriate credentialing related to dyslexia.
• The Innovative Services to Students with Autism Grant Award is available to all LEAs, with priority given to collaborations across LEAs. The purpose of this grant opportunity is to increase capacity across Texas schools to implement innovative programs that effectively serve students with autism ages 3-21. 

Department News

Special Paper Administration of an Online Test Policy

Starting December 2022, all State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR®) assessments— grades 3–8 assessments, end-of-course (EOC) assessments, and Spanish assessments, including accommodated versions—will be administered online. Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment System (TELPAS) listening and speaking and reading assessments will continue to be administered online.

Requests for a special administration of an online assessment (e.g., paper version of STAAR, holistic assessment of TELPAS listening and speaking in grades 2–12) should be submitted only if a required accommodation documented in the student’s individualized education program (IEP), individual accommodation plan (IAP), or 504 paperwork cannot be delivered in an online format.

For additional information, see the "Resources to Support Online Testing and Accommodations" section in the January 27, 2022 TEA Correspondence.

Find Out More

Let TX CAN Help You Prepare for Assessment

Check out TX CAN’s updated course, STAAR Alternate 2:  Before, During and After the Assessment. This course provides guidance for teachers on preparing students for the test, test administration, and using test results to inform future instruction. It also includes a new video example of test administration. 

Register for Course

The Power of Coaching After Training

Research indicates that training with a coaching component can lead to improved teacher practice and student outcomes. In the last 2 years, TEA's Special Education Technical Assistance Networks have embarked on a journey to use coaching to improve teacher practices. Currently coaching is offered as follow-up support for several of our trainings, including Standards-Based IEPs, A Step Toward IEP Quality & Rigor, the Autism Circuit Academy, and, coming soon, Writing Appropriate Measurable Postsecondary Goals. 

Contact your regional service center to sign up for training and take advantage of the coaching that is provided to support teachers with fidelity of implementation. 

TX CAN shout out to ESC Region 7! 18% of LEAs in region 7 have had at least one teacher complete the TX CAN training, A Step Toward IEP Quality & Rigor, and were rated as proficient following coaching by their regional TX CAN specialist.

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