SPECIAL EDUCATION

The Special Education department provides technical assistance and training in the development, implementation and evaluation of programs serving students with disabilities for increased student achievement.

Jan Oatess Component Director Special Education		P.L.U.S.S. Virtual Classroom
Laura Brinkley Samantha Weesner 504 and Compliance	Fabiana Bezerra Behavior Support	Mydah Stoever Autism Low Incidence Disabilities Significant Cognitive Disabilities
Laura Brinkley Samantha Weesner Inclusive Practices for Special Education STAAR/STAAR Alt2	Pam Bumpass Early Childhood Special Education Parent Involvement Child Find Speech Language Pathology	Laura Brinkley Samantha Weesner Assistive Technology
Suzanne Jones Evaluation & IEP ARD Support Secondary Transition and Graduation	Michael Munro, Ph.D. Visual Impairment Deaf/Hard of Hearing Assistive Technology	Ana Deter Special Education Liaison Coordinator

Non-Educational Funds

General Information

Allowable and Unallowable Expenditures

Application for Funding

Frequently Asked Questions

Non-Education Funds Presentation

State Assessment for Students with Disabilities

The statewide testing program includes the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR), which is the test administered to most students.

The testing program also includes the STAAR Alternate 2 test, which is intended for the most significantly cognitively impaired students. Each student's Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) committee determines, based on criteria, the most appropriate assessment and any allowable accommodations for the student.

Who? All public school students in Texas, grades 3–12, take STAAR tests.

What? STAAR is the state’s testing program and is based on state curriculum standards (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills; TEKS) in core subjects including reading, writing, mathematics, science, and social studies. Some students participate in testing with allowable accommodations.

When? Grades 3–8 STAAR tests are given in the spring. End-of-course assessments (EOC) are given throughout the year. The number of tests your child takes each year will depend on what grade he or she is in.

Where? STAAR tests are given to students at their own school, in regular classrooms that have been set up to make it easy to focus on the test. If students have certain special needs and require special accommodations, they may be tested in a different area of the school.

Why? STAAR tests are designed to measure what students are learning in each grade and whether or not they are ready for the next grade. The goal is to ensure that all students receive what they need to be academically successful.

Texas Education Agency information regarding state assessment for students with disabilities, including information about allowable accommodations, is found at 

https://tea.texas.gov/student-assessment/testing/student-assessment-overview/accommodation-resources/assessments-for-students-with-disabilities