Brock Bulletin
March 2015
A Word from Rhonda
Welcome Back from Spring Break! I hope you are rested and ready for the busy spring.
I attended the TCASE winter conference last month and with it being the start of a legislative session, the place was buzzing with information about new proposed bills that would affect our work with learners.
The House Public Education Committee has passed the following bills and these will not be sent through the next steps in the process:
- CSHB 66 prohibits the commissioner from lowering a school’s performance rating based on unsatisfactory performance on a state test administered to a limited English proficient student who has been enrolled in a U.S. district for less than three years. The committee substitute requires districts to include results of English language learner performance on campus report cards.
- HB 181 eliminates the inclusion of endorsements, performance acknowledgements and distinguished level achievements on printed versions of high school diplomas.
- HB 370 requires a school to provide a parent or guardian written notice indicating whether a school marshal is present on a campus. This bill was sent to the general calendar.
- CSHB 440 specifies that a physical education curriculum must meet the needs of students who have a disability, including a mental disability. The committee substitute changes the bill references to students with mental disabilities from the Health and Safety Code to the Education Code.
- HB 456 requires school boards to prohibit the use and possession of vapor products at school-related activities on or off school property.
- HB 505 prohibits limits on the number of dual credit courses or hours a high school student can take. This bill was voted favorably from committee.
- HB 256 provides districts more flexibility to use compensatory education funds for childcare and related services for student parents. The committee substitute adds more allowable uses for compensatory education funds, such as parenting support and other wrap-around services.
Other bills of interest particularly to Special Educators are:
- HB 1706 which relates to reducing paperwork and duplicate reports required of a school district. This bill is an identical companion to SB 502.
- HB 2048 focuses on the mental health services for minors who have, or are at risk of developing, a serious emotional disturbance. The bill requires the development of a system of care framework to support certain students with emotional disturbance.
- SB 811 focuses on providing a translated copy of a student's individualized education program to non-English speaking parents. This bill appears to expand current requirements for translating the IEP.
I will keep you informed as the Legislative Session continues.
Rhonda
Parent Plug In
Parent Training Topic –“Life Planning For Families of Special Needs”
· Presented by Texas Life Planning
· Topic: Preparing and Protecting your Child’s Future
· Learn about the things to put in place to obtain and protect against an uncertain future.
o -What is SSI?
o -What is a waiver?
o -What is guardianship?
o -What is Life Planning?
Tuesday, Apr 7, 2015, 06:00 PM
268 Southwestern Blvd, Coppell, TX, United States
ESY NEEDS YOU!
Mornings only & No Fridays
Work Day is June 8
Session 1 = 11 days (June 9-25)
Session 2 = 12 days (July 14-31)
Application attached to Rhonda's email
Department of Intervention Services 2015-2016 Back to School Meeting
Save the Date!
Meeting will be held in the CMS West Auditorium.
This meeting is for all Brock Staff, SpEd Teachers, SpEd Paras, Homebound Teacher, Crisis Counselor, Dyslexia Specialists and District 504 Facilitators.