Special Populations Parent Resources
ARD Process:
The Parent’s Guide to the Admission, Review, and Dismissal Process is a comprehensive document that explains the admission, review, and dismissal (ARD) process and contains information that assists parents in participating effectively in the ARD committee for their child. Parents must be provided this document prior to the initial ARD meeting or upon request. Local education agencies (LEAs) are encouraged to maintain documentation of dissemination in the child’s eligibility folder.
Procedural Rights:
The federal regulations for IDEA 2004 include a section (Subpart E) called Procedural Safeguards. These safeguards are designed to protect the rights of parents and their child with a disability and at the same time, give families and school systems several mechanisms by which to resolve their disputes.
Supplemental Special Education Services:
Supplemental Special Education Services (SSES) are $1,500 one-time online grants for eligible parents/caregivers of eligible students served by special education that have been impacted by COVID-19 school closures.
COVID-19 & Special Education Services:
During the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, LEAs must make reasonable efforts to provide the student with the services required by the student's IEP. If there are services, accommodations, and modifications required by the student's IEP that cannot be provided during this time, the student's ARD committee must determine which services it can provide to meet the student's needs. The intent for guidance and support is to provide LEAs with planning, communication, and instructional resources to meet the individual needs of students with disabilities.
SPEDTex (Special Education Information Center) Parent Resources:SPEDTex can help! We provide information and resources that can help you understand your child's disability, your rights, and responsibilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and facilitate collaboration that supports the development and delivery of services to children with disabilities in our State.
Council for Exceptional Children:
The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) is the largest international professional organization dedicated to improving the success of children and youth with disabilities and/or gifts and talents.
Transitional Support:
Transition Services under IDEA is a coordinated set of activities designed as a results oriented process that promotes movement from school to post-school activities, including
- post-secondary education
- vocational training
- integrated employment (including supported employment)
- continuing and adult education
- adult services
- independent living, or
- community participation
There are many post-secondary outcomes for a student with disabilities. Outcomes can include college, trade school, on the job training, full time or part time employment, living independently, living at home with parents, and/or independent living with supports from outside agencies. The post-secondary outcome is based on age appropriate transition activities, including school/classroom assessments, as well as the goals and desires expressed by the student and/or the student’s parents.
In the state of Texas, individual transition planning must begin on or before the student’s 14th birthday and is updated annually through an admission, review, and dismissal (ARD) committee meeting.
Dyslexia Handbook:
The State's Dyslexia Handbook was recently updated. This document reviews some of the major changes to help families understand what to expect if they have a child with dyslexia, suspect their child may have dyslexia, or have a student in a grade where dyslexia screening happens for all students.
State Significant Disproportionality:
The state has the discretion to define what constitutes significant disproportionality for the LEAs and the State in general. However, the State's definition of significant disproportionality must be based on an analysis of numerical information and may not include consideration of the State's or LEA's policies, procedures, or practices.§
