Special Education Newsletter
Back-to-School Edition • September 2019
TEA Rebooting the Special Education Listserv
In a continued effort to share as much information as possible related to TEA’s efforts to improve special education services across Texas, TEA’s Special Education team is rebooting the Special Education ListServ.
The ListServ reboot will feature regular communications, such as newsletters, including updates on TEA’s progress in implementation of the Texas Strategic Plan for Special Education, opportunities for broader stakeholder engagement, outcomes realized from various initiatives within the strategic plan, and information on new resources for families, students, and schools as they become available.
To help ensure that we can provide subscribers with the most relevant information possible, it would be helpful if ListServ subscribers could provide us with some information about themselves. Subscribers can do so by clicking the link below and responding to a quick, three-question survey.
TEA Educator Survey
TEA is currently collecting data in order to inform the development of high-quality resources for parents/guardians of children with disabilities. TEA is inviting teachers, administrators, and related staff to complete an anonymous survey about their experiences in locating and disseminating special education resources to parents. The responses from this survey will be used to develop recommendations for the Parent Resources Initiative. The survey is voluntary and will remain confidential, as allowed by law. Thank you for your time and participation.
Local Accountability System
Districts interested in participating in the Local Accountability System (LAS) process for the 2019-20 school year must submit an online Notice of Interest and attend a TEA-sponsored training session during the fall of 2019.
The Notice of Interest (NOI) form and the 2020 DRAFT Local Accountability System Guide and Appendices are now available on the LAS website. By submitting the NOI form, districts will be provided with additional information about the LAS process but are not committed to participate in the process. The deadline to submit an NOI form for the 2019-20 school year is Friday, September 13, 2019.
Districts that anticipate participating in the LAS process during the 2019-20 school year are also required to attend a TEA-sponsored training session during the fall of 2019. The schedule for LAS training sessions this fall will be posted (available soon) on the LAS website. Districts with an approved NOI will be given priority when registering for the LAS training.
Have a question or comment about the local accountability system? Email LAS@tea.texas.gov or call (512) 463-9704.
Accelerated Testers Guidance
As was shared in the August 22 Enhancements and Updates to the Texas Assessment Program for 2019-20 TAA, there will be no policy changes to the testing requirements for accelerated students for the 2019-20 school year while the agency works to implement new funding established under House Bill (HB) 3. Districts should continue to follow existing policies and guidance concerning testing of accelerated students for the 2019-20 school year. HB 3 will provide funding for districts to administer the SAT or ACT, and this funding will facilitate the implementation of federal testing requirements for accelerated students who have taken the STAAR Algebra I end-of-course (EOC) prior to high school. During the upcoming school year, the agency will complete the required process to include these outcomes in August 2021 accountability.
Reminder on Substitute Assessments in Accountability
Reminder
Beginning with the December 2019 and spring 2020 STAAR EOC administrations, substitute assessments will no longer be included in accountability calculations. During the upcoming year, the agency will amend Texas Administrative Code (TAC), Title 19, §101.4002, as appropriate, and remove references to the inclusion of substitute assessments in accountability during the adoption of the 2020 Accountability Manual. Substitute assessments may continue to be used to meet individual student graduation requirements, as adopted under 19 TAC §101.4002.
Opportunity: Functional Behavior Assessment Workshop
The Burkhart Center for Autism Education & Research at Texas Tech University is partnering with ESC Region 11 to offer an intensive three-day Functional Behavior Assessment workshop. This FBA workshop is limited to 20 participants.
Autism Circuit 2.0
CALL FOR APPLICANTS
Autism Circuit 2.0 is seeking educators across the state of Texas to be a part of a unique cohort focused on learning more about evidence-based practices (EBPs) with students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Assembling the Pieces of the Puzzle: A Day of Learning for Parents of Children with Autism
October 29, 2019, is a day of learning dedicated to assisting families of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The event is open to parents/guardians of children with autism in the Region 11 area. The training sessions will focus on behavior strategies, visual strategies to help structure the home, communication, understanding the IEP, social skill strategies, and more. Registration Deadline: October 20, 2019. See flyer for details.
Statewide Supplemental Funds for the Education of Students with Visual Impairments (SSVI)
Option B won the majority vote - the funding formula based on student count at $362.50 per student. Eligible expenses for the SSVI award funds must be expended within the following dates: September 1, 2019, through May 30, 2020.
Please note that the final amount of SSVI funding may vary due to actual grant funding received by ESC Region 11 for 2019-2020. An award letter with the final SSVI grant amount and allowable use of funds will be sent to the district upon ESC Region 11's receipt of the grant funds from Texas Education Agency. Please contact me at pcannon@esc11.net or (817) 740-7587 if you have any questions.
Training Opportunities
iOS Voiceover Webinar Series
Voiceover is an essential accessibility feature to access iOS devices for students who are blind or have low vision. This webinar series, led by Carrie Farraje of Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, provides instruction and guided practice for teachers to learn this important accessibility feature. To receive access to recorded sessions, participants must register for the training.
Braille and Tactile Graphic Webinars
Sue O'Brien (Mattson) from TSBVI will be leading four webinars on Braille Production and Tactile Graphics to support braille transcription. For each webinar, participants can join via Zoom from their own computer and use their own braille production equipment to complete exercises or ask questions.
Scroll down to the Upcoming Professional Opportunities at the bottom of this newsletter for dates and registration.
Industry-Based Certification Resources from TEA
Conference: Sharing Wisdom, Achievements, and Possibilities
From Diapers to Diplomas and Beyond
SWAP Conference
September 7, 2019, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Cook Children's Medical Center, 801 7th Avenue
Attend this annual conference geared towards parents who have children with disabilities and/or complex medical needs as well as youth ages 12-21.
Regional Transition-Related Events for Students and Families
Sept. 28 - Making Connections - ESC Region 11
Oct. 9 - iWork Youth Career Exploration - ESC Region 11
Oct. 24 - Capabilities Job Fair - ESC Region 11
Nov. 9 - Student and Family Strategies for Success - Mansfield Performing Arts Center
ESC Region 11 SLP Scoop
SLP Statewide Webinar Series 2019-2020
The Statewide SLP webinar series has proven to be an excellent source of continuing education for many speech-language pathologists and other school staff in Texas. Developed through the thoughtful collaboration of all 20 education service centers in Texas, this series hosts respected presenters delivering high-level content on topics related to school-based speech and language services. The webinars are from 9:00 a.m. to Noon, and 2.5 TSHA CEUs are provided.
Scroll down to the Upcoming Professional Opportunities at the bottom of this newsletter for dates and registration.
SPP 7
Please check out our ESC Region 11’s SPP 7 Webpage for information on the COS process, frequently asked questions about SPP 7, and free training resources. Please contact Katie Adams with questions.
Early Childhood Special Education
TEA is making an effort to clarify and promote understanding that any child (aged three through five years) who is eligible for and receiving special education and related services through a school district must be served in the least-restrictive environment specified in the child’s IEP. To that end, references to the term "PPCD" are being phased out over time and services will instead be called Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) services. TEA is currently working on revising their websites, documents, and resources to reflect the new verbiage.
September
- Begins Sept. 6 - Fall 2019 - Webinar + Canvas Series: Literacy Toolbelt - The Superpowers Within! - #024865
- Sept. 19 - iOS Voiceover Series: 1 - Starting and Basic Gestures - #025401
- Sept. 19 & Jan. 23 - New Speech-Language Pathology Academy - #024829
- Sept. 20 - Speech Webinar #1: Supporting Adolescents and Young Adults Who are Facing the Challenge of Stuttering - #024958
- Sept. 24-Dec. 10 - New Special Education Teachers Cohort - #024871
- Sept. 25 - Braille Production: Getting Started with Braille and Tactile Graphic - #025384
- Sept. 26 - Counselor Boot Camp - #026044
Sept. 30 - From the Classroom to the Testing Room: State Assessment Designated Supports Used Routinely and Effectively! - #025761
October
- Oct. 3 - Teaching Students Self-Determination Skills - #025432
- Oct. 10 - iOS Voiceover Series: 2 - Pages, Today View, Status Bar, and Dock - #025405
- Oct. 17 - iOS Voiceover Series: 3 - App Switcher, Control Center, and Notifications - #025407
- Oct. 18 - Collaborating for Student Success - “Save the Date”
- Oct. 23 - Building Emergent Literacy Skills in Speech and Language Therapy - #025439
- Oct. 23 - Braille Production: Creating Braille for Beginning Readers - #025386
- Oct. 31 - Counselor Summit - #026000
December
- Dec. 6 - All Access: Augmentative Alternative Communication and Assistive Technology - #025126 (AM) or #025127 (PM)
- Dec. 9-10 - Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Foundations Team Training - #025433
- Dec 13 - Speech Webinar Series #3: Integrating Time-Saving SLP Interventions into Classrooms and Curriculum - #025412
Ongoing/Online Opportunities
See me. Know me. BE ME!! - Immersion Experience - monthly sessions offered Fall 2019
Fall and Spring - Speech Language Pathology Statewide Webinar Series - Register
Surrogate & Foster Parent Training
Secondary Transition
Texas Dyslexia Identification Academy