Description:

The Special Education Information Center (SPEDTex) provides resources and interactive features for increasing family awareness of disabilities and special education processes, with the goal of improving partnerships between schools and families. SPEDTex provides resources to understand your child's disability and rights under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and to promote collaboration for effective services to children with disabilities in Texas. SPEDTex is committed to providing families and educators with high-quality resources to enable students with disabilities to achieve the highest outcomes.

Contact information:

Phone: 1-855-773-3839

Email: inquire@spedtex.org

www.spedtex.org

SPEDTEX: Special Education Information Center

Click Here To View the Video: What is SPEDTEX?

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Office of Special Populations and Student Supports

Department of Special Education:
Email: sped@tea.texas.gov

Department of Review and Support:
Email: ReviewandSupport@tea.texas.gov

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The Parent's Guide to the ARD Process

This guide is designed to give you, as a parent of a child who is or may be eligible for special education services, a better understanding of the special education process and of your procedural rights and responsibilities so that you will be able to fully participate in the decision making process regarding your child's education. SPEDTex makes this resource available in over 30 different languages.

Click the link below to download this resources.

Parent Guides

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Notice of Procedural Safeguards

Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), you and your child have legal protections during the evaluation and individualized education program (IEP) process. These protections are called Procedural Safeguards. SPEDTex makes this resource available in over 30 different languages.

Click the link below to download this resource.

Procedure Safeguards-SPEDTex

To view the American Sign Language (ASL) version of the Notice of Procedural Safeguards, click here.

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The TEXAS LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE CHILD-CENTERED SPECIAL EDUCATION PROCESS‍

The purpose of the project 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.

Universal Academy board policies and operating procedures of public schools across Texas are linked to The Texas Legal Framework.

Policies and operating procedures can be accessed by entering the LEA name (Universal Academy) or county-district number (057808).

Click Here to view the Legal Framework: Enter the LEA Name or District Number

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CHILD FIND

Our CHILD FIND efforts include advertising the availability of services through media, public notices, staff training, community health fairs and letters to private schools, physicians, nursing homes, group homes, and hospitals. We have special services available for eligible infants, children and young adults identified with disabilities. Federal and state laws require that school districts maintain a CHILD FIND system for identifying, locating, and evaluating individuals with suspected disabilities (birth through age 21) within its jurisdiction who are in need of special education and related services. Once a referral is made, the campus follows the Student Support Team (SST) procedures. A full individual evaluation (FIE) is conducted to determine the child’s eligibility and educational need for services.

Click Here: What is Child Find?

How do I make a referral or get more information?

Click Here: To Complete the Universal Academy CHILD FIND Referral Form

Click Here For more information on CHILD FIND

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Student Handbook Statement: English and Spanish (TEA)

TEA is required to provide school districts and charter schools a written statement of the options and requirements for providing assistance to students who have learning difficulties or who need, or may need, special education services (Texas Education Code §26.0081). The statement must explain that a parent may request an evaluation for special education or Section 504 services at any time. Parents must receive the statement in a written format every year. A school may include the statement in the student handbook, or a school may disseminate the statement through other means such as a letter or newsletter to each parent and ensure that each parent receives a copy.‍

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Transition and Employment Guide

A transition and employment guide developed and published by the Texas Education Agency for students enrolled in special education programs and their parents must be posted to the school’s website. Information on statewide services and programs that assist in the transition to life outside of the public school system. This guide includes transition services; employment and supported employment services; social security programs; community and long-term services and support; postsecondary educational programs and services; information sharing with health and human services agencies and providers; guardianship, alternatives to guardianship, including a supported decision-making agreement under Chapter 1357, Estates Code; self-advocacy, person-directed planning, and self-determination; and contact information for all relevant state agencies.

The Texas Transition & Employment Guide ENGLISH

The Texas Transition & Employment Guide SPANISH

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Significant Disproportionality State/Federal Activity Updates Disproportionality

Texas has long regarded significant disproportionality (SD) as a critical issue requiring a comprehensive solution to ensurea free and appropriate public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment (LRE) for every eligible child under theIndividuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Determinations for whether SD based on race/ethnicity occurs withrespect to the identification of children as children with disabilities are made annually and include:

• Identification as children with particular impairments;

• Placement of children in particular educational settings; and

• Incidence, duration, and type of disciplinary actions, including suspensions and expulsions.

Click the link below to download the resource.

Significant Disproportionality State/Federal Activity Updates Disproportionality

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Resources:

For Families

For Educators

Overview of Special Education (English)

Overview of Special Education (Spanish)

Technical Assistance: Child Find and Evaluation

Partners Resource Network

Technical Assistance: Individualized Education (IEP) Development

Guidance for the Comprehensive Evaluation of Specific Learning Disabilities

Technical Assistance: Behavior Supports and Guidance for Students with Disabilities (English) and (Spanish)

Delayed or Denied Evaluations and Compensatory Services (English) and (Spanish)

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You may contact the Special Education Department at your child's campus.

·      Universal Academy-Irving, 972-255-1800

·      Universal Academy-Coppell,972-393-5834

·      Universal Academy-Bartonville,972-393-5068

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