Special Education in Texas

Need help understanding the special education process in Texas? Check out these important resources to learn more:

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Coronavirus (COVID-19)

At Partners Resource Network (PRN), our primary, fundamental concern is protecting the well-being of members of our community and educating others on how they can be strong allies to people with disabilities through the COVID-19 outbreak.

This event, first and foremost, has all of us focused on the safety and health of our families, friends, and clients. We are closely monitoring the rapidly changing data and facts associated with COVID-19 and the impact it is having both locally and around the world.

Keeping in mind the information from medical experts, and with input from our disability community, we are putting a plan in place to minimize any possible disruption to our ability to provide services to the families of children and youth with disabilities in our state.

We are prepared to continue the high level of service you expect from us, and have taken the following steps to do so with everyone’s health and safety in mind:

  • We have encouraged our staff to work remotely through the end of April.
  • We are moving all previously scheduled in-person events through April 2020 to virtual platforms. Details will be available on these developments through our Regional Coordinators, website, and social media.
  • Through the end of April, we are moving as much of our programming online as possible.
  • In instances where it’s not possible to adapt our programming for a virtual set-up, we will be canceling or rescheduling these events until further notice.

As this situation is fluid, with information rapidly changing and updating, PRN will continuously asses the circumstances, and make changes as necessary to protect the well-being of our clients and staff.

If you participate in any of our programs, your Regional Coordinator (RC) will be in touch with you to provide you with more specifics about any upcoming events or activities you were signed up for.

We are taking these actions for one simple reason: The more people and organizations that practice social distancing over the next few weeks will make the world an overall safer place for people with disabilities and chronic health conditions.

Regardless of if you yourself are at high risk for COVID-19, we encourage everyone to read up on the best practices of how to be a strong ally to our friends, family members, and peers at this time.

Resources for More Information on COVID-19

Guidance from the U.S. Department of Education (USDE)

Guidance from the Texas Education Agency (TEA)

More Resources

Resources in Spanish

Education Laws

Since the 1960s, there has been a virtual avalanche of federal legislation that relates directly or indirectly to individuals with disabilities, particularly children and youth. Use the links below to explore several of the most influential laws:

Babies & Toddlers (Ages 0-3)

Early intervention is an effective way to help very young children (birth to the third birthday) catch up or address specific developmental concerns as soon as possible in their lives. Early intervention services are authorized under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. To learn more about these vital services, explore the topics in our resources for Babies & Toddlers (Ages 0-3):

In Spanish | En español – Ayuda para los Bebés Hasta Su Tercer Cumpleaños

Children & Young Adults (3 to 26 years)

The education of children with disabilities is a top national priority. IDEA sets high standards for their achievement and guides how special help and services are made available in schools to address their individual needs. To learn more about these vital services, explore the topics in our resources for Children & Young Adults (3 to 26 Years):

More Resources:

Evaluations

IEPs

Placement, Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) & Discipline

Behavior

Transition

Dispute Resolution, Complaints, Mediation, Due Process

Fact Sheets

We’ve put together a collection of fact sheets on a variety of topics to help you along on your way to becoming an advocate for your child.  Topics include: accommodations, disabilities, advocacy, ARD process, assistive technology, and much more.  Visit the Fact Sheets page to view the full collection.

Statewide Webinars

Throughout the year, our statewide team host free statewide webinars covering a variety of topics and including a Q&A session at the end.  All of our webinars are free!  Visit the Statewide Webinars page for information about upcoming webinars as well as recordings and resources from past webinars.

Online Courses

We are always looking for new ways to help parents and caregivers on their way to becoming advocates for their children. We believe the best way to meet this goal is to empower parents and caregivers through education. With this in mind, we hope the self-guided online courses will become a valuable resource on your way to advocacy.  Our online courses are available at https://prntexas.com/

Independent Futures that Work!

The Independent Futures that Work! project is a joint effort of the Parent Training and Information Centers (PTIs) in Alabama, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Oklahoma.

The primary purpose of this 5-year project is to build the competence and confidence of young adults with disabilities in Region B-2 to access independent living and employment services so they can more successfully transition from the youth entitlement system to the adult eligibility system. Our Resource Center will also help family members and professionals improve their capacity to support these young adults with disabilities on their journey.

Visit the Independent Futures that Work! page to view the collection of resources.

School, Family, and Community Engagement Initiative

Partners Resource Network and Region 10 Education Service Center are working with the Texas Education Agency (TEA) on the School, Family, and Community Engagement (SFCE) Initiative. The goal of the SFCE is to help school staff and parents build collaborative relationships and increase positive outcomes for students with disabilities.

Visit the SFCE page to learn more.

Healthy Families Resources

Learning Lab Resources

Spanish Resources

ADA: El Acta para los Norteamericanos con Discapacidades
Apelación y Acción Civil
Ayuda para Niños con Discapacidades (3-26) 
Audiencia de Proceso Legal Debido
Ayuda para los Bebés Hasta Su Tercer Cumpleaños
Categorías de Discapacidad bajo IDEA
Cómo Resolver Disputas Entre Familias y Escuelas
Cómo Solicitar una Evaluación Independiente de Su Niño
Cómo Solicitar una Reunión para Revisar el IEP de su Niño
Derecho a Recibir una Explicación Completa Sobre Todas las Garantías Procesales
Derecho a Recibir una Notificación Previa por Escrito
Derecho de No Estar de Acuerdo
Derecho de Obtener una Evaluación Educativa Independiente
Derecho de los Padres de Participar en Reuniones
Determinando la Ubicación del Niño
Discapacidades Específicas del Aprendizaje (LD)
Discapacidades Intelectuales
El Espectro del Autismo
El Equipo y el Contenido del IEP
El Proceso de Determinar la Elegibilidad del Niño
El Proceso de Resolución
Impedimentos Visuales
La Evaluación Gratuita de Niños
La Mediación
Lesión Cerebral Traumática
Más Sobre el Equipo del IEP
Otro Impedimento de la Salud
Preguntas Comunes de los Padres sobre la Educación Especial
Queja de Proceso Debido
Queja Estatal
Reuniones para Desarrollar el IEP
Revisando el IEP
Sección 504 de la Ley de Rehabilitación de 1973
Servicios Relacionados
Sobre el Proceso de Educación Especial
Sobre la Ley IDEA
Sordera y la Pérdida de la Capacidad Auditiva
Trastornos Emocionales
Trastornos del Habla y Lenguaje
Trastorno por Déficit de Atención /Hiperactividad (ADHD)