SMORE - updated April 17, 2024
Child Find, Evaluation & ARD Supports
NEW!!! The Dyslexia Handbook - 2024 Updated Information
At the April 12, 2024, State Board of Education (SBOE) meeting, the SBOE approved for second reading and final adoption changes to 19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) 74.28. Included as a figure in 19 TAC 74.28 is the SBOE’s Dyslexia Handbook. While the final rule and accompanying figure will be filed with the Texas Register in accordance with the typical rulemaking calendar, the agency is posting the handbook that was adopted so that the community can begin to review it. The handbook contains unique formatting required for the rulemaking process, typically reflected by single underlined text that reflects text at first reading, and double underlined text to reflect changes from first reading to second reading. Deleted text is indicated by the strikethrough format in bracketed text.
Note that this is NOT to be considered the official handbook until it is posted in the Texas Register, which will be communicated to stakeholders. Additionally, the agency resources below, including the HB 3928 FAQs, will be revised soon to reflect the board’s decisions. View the handbook.
Additionally, to find the Dyslexia and Related Disorders Website, you will need to hover over “Academics” at the top of TEA’s main page. Options will open up and you will see the title “Dyslexia” in the middle. That will take you directly to the site. Another option would be to google, TEA Dyslexia and Related Disorders.
Review of Existing Evaluation Data (REED) & Re-Evaluation Q&A Document
HOT OFF THE PRESS :) TEA just released an updated/revised FAQ on REED's. Check it out!
https://spedsupport.tea.texas.gov/sites/default/files/2024-04/q-and-a-reed-and-reevaluation.pdf
There will be an accompanying video from TEA coming soon.
Proposed Commission Rule Changes
FYI - there are several areas that TEA is considering making proposed amendments and clarification about. The updates would impact several areas of the Texas Administrative Code related to special education areas and clarify terminology and codify current program practices. If you would like to check out the proposed changes the two documents are linked below.
There is a currently a public comment period open until April 22nd if you would like to submit any comments related to these proposed changes. A form for submitting public comments is available on the proposed commissioner of education rules web page.
https://tea.texas.gov/about-tea/laws-and-rules/commissioner-rules-tac/coe-proposed/24-03-89-1011.pdf
https://tea.texas.gov/about-tea/laws-and-rules/commissioner-rules-tac/coe-proposed/24-03-89-1049.pdf
I recommend you read through these documents so you are aware of the upcoming changes that TEA is proposing. These will all impact our practices in different areas for next school year.
UPCOMING workshop opportunities
May 10th, 9:00-12:00
Deep Diving into Dyslexia: From Screening to Intervention
https://txr17.escworks.net/catalog/session.aspx?session_id=1018973
May 31st, 9:00-12:00
TDA 6: Dysgraphia
https://txr17.escworks.net/catalog/session.aspx?session_id=1002740
May 31st, 1:00-4:00
TDA 5: Screening for Dyslexia
https://txr17.escworks.net/catalog/session.aspx?session_id=1002755
June 5th, 9:00-4:00
TDA 4: Dyslexia from Child Find through the ARD Committee Process
https://txr17.escworks.net/catalog/session.aspx?session_id=997558
June 6th, 9:00-4:00
TDA 3: Considerations for Emergent Bilingual Students
https://txr17.escworks.net/catalog/session.aspx?session_id=1002767
June 13th, 9:00-4:00
TDA 1: Foundations of Dyslexia
https://txr17.escworks.net/catalog/session.aspx?session_id=1002737
ALIGNED! 2024
2nd annual Special Education Conference (Virtual) and it's free to attend!
Join education professionals from across the state for this exciting virtual conference as we explore child find, evaluation, and admission, review, and dismissal (ARD) supports topics. The Aligned! 2024: From Child Find to IEP Implementation conference provides expertise, best practices, and networking supports to assist public school district and charter schools.
Guidance for Comprehensive Evaluation of Specific Learning Disabilities
This guidance document serves as a resource for local education agencies (LEAs) and Multidisciplinary Teams (MDTs) as they work collaboratively to evaluate students suspected of having a Specific Learning Disability (SLD), including dyslexia and dysgraphia. An overview of relevant regulations, educational disability condition elements, best practices, and special considerations related to the identification of an SLD is provided. This resource is best used in conjunction with the TEA Technical Assistance Guide: Child Find & Evaluation.
Child Find Process for Parentally Placed Private School Children with Disabilities Quick Guide
The Child Find Process for Parentally Placed Private School Children with Disabilities Quick Guide highlights key points and important resources for local education agencies (LEAs) to consider for children with disabilities enrolled by their parents/guardians in private, including religious, elementary schools, and secondary schools located in the LEA. TEA just released this quick guide to help address questions you may have about parentally placed students.
UPDATE to TEA Technical Assistance Guides
TEA has updated the technical assistance guide for Child Find & Evaluation and the guide for IEP Development.
Please make sure you are referencing the January 2024 version of the Child Find & Evaluation guide and the December 2023 version of the IEP Development guide. These documents provide helpful, general information for LEAs for Child Find & Evaluation processes and how to develop an IEP that is individualized and based on the unique needs of the child.
Link to Child Find & Evaluation Guide: https://spedsupport.tea.texas.gov/sites/default/files/2024-01/technical-assistance-child-find-and-evaluation-guide.pdf
Link to IEP Development Guide: https://spedsupport.tea.texas.gov/sites/default/files/2024-01/technical-assistance-individualized-education-iep-development.pdf
You can also access these document on the Texas SpEd Support website. https://spedsupport.tea.texas.gov/
CTE and Special Education FAQ
This document addresses common questions received by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) relating to CTE and students served by special education. All students should have equitable access to CTE courses, with supports as specified in the IEP. The content of this document provides clarification for the following categories:
- ARD committee membership
- Teacher certification and classroom roles
- Special education services, including adaptations to course content and requirements
- Vocational Adjustment Class
https://tea.texas.gov/academics/special-student-populations/review-and-support/cte-sped-faq.pdf
TEA Discipline Flowchart for students with a disability
The purpose of this flowchart is to assist administrators and special educators in understanding the processes and federal and state requirements when a student protected under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) violates a code of student conduct and the disciplinary consequence considered involves a day of removal from the current educational setting. Included in the chart are state and federal requirements, clarifications of disciplinary decisions, as well as required actions in disciplinary decisions. This flowchart is now posted on Texas Sped Support!
Please print and review this chart especially for your Manifestation Determination decisions. The print is small so you will want to print this on larger size paper.
SB 2304 - Driving with a Disability Program Information
FYI - SB 2304 is about the regulation of driver education courses and driving safety courses and the provision of information regarding the Texas Driving with Disability Program to certain public school students. This bill requires ARD committees to provide parents/adult students with information regarding the Texas Driving with Disability Program. According to SB 2304, the information that needs to be provided to parents/adult students will be developed by TEA in collaboration with the Department of Public Safety, the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, and the Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities. This collaboration has not happened yet so we do not have any materials from TEA to share at this time.
TEA is recommending that ARD Committees address this requirement in our annual ARD deliberations and/or in the student's transition plan. ARD Committees need to make parents/adult students aware of the following:
(1) information regarding a person's option to voluntarily list any health condition or disability that may impede the person's communication with a peace officer on a person's vehicle registration information in accordance with Section 502.061, Transportation Code, or application for an original license under Section 521.142, Transportation Code; and
(2) may be provided with any transition planning materials provided under this subchapter.
Link to SB 2304: https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/billtext/html/SB02304F.htm
Texas SpEd Support website launched
This is a one-stop shop for educators and administrators who support students served by special education. The website will house special education resources such as online courses, printable tools and templates, guidebooks, and a robust video library. Bookmark Texas SPED Support today.
Follow on social media for real-time updates.
Follow on Facebook, Instagram, & Threads: @TexasSPEDSupport
Follow on Twitter: @TXSPEDSupport
Legal Framework website
The purpose of the Texas Legal Framework is to provide and maintain an updated web-based platform to assist stakeholders such as local educational agencies (LEAs), advocates, and parents in learning about state and federal laws and regulations by providing rich resources regarding obligations and rights for the provision of a free and appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment to students with disabilities.
Child Find Poster
TEA’s Child Find, Evaluation, and ARD Supports Network has created a poster that LEAs may print and post on their campuses and around their district. This Child Find poster is available in English and Spanish and is a fillable PDF so that LEAs may include the contact information of the special education department.