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TEA topics
 RF
• Public Hearing in Nov.
• Need for monitoring system
• Monitoring will be more like other monitoring in place
now
• Rule will be finalized in January 2011
• Rule will be implemented in 2011-2012
• Present RF Monitoring will stay in effect through 10-11
• TEA will provide more information at mid-winter
TCASE
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Critical mass
Starting point, not a rule
Purpose is to assist smaller/rural districts
Meet the needs of students
Too many RDSPD in Region 4,10,11 and 20
ESCs are working with districts
TEA may become involved
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Commissioner Rule Review
Agency reviews and then Commissioner
Out in November 2010
Major changes in SE will be made in August
2011, finalized January 2012 and
implemented in 2012 -2013
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Must have PWN when parent makes a request
in an ARD
Guidance being finalized
On web in October 2010
Interpretation from OSEP was in 2008
Some requests could be covered in ARD
Notice
If outside ARD Notice, must do a PWN
Must do whether ARD is agreed or disagreed
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More to come from TEA
Should develop district procedures
TEA is looking at guidance developed in
Florida
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OSEP changed guidance, parents have the
right to opt out of a referral to public school
ECI changes
 Terminology change to Notification of Potential
Disability
 Basically a referral
 Should be 90 days prior as before
 ECI definition for eligibility will be tightening
 If notification to district is less than 90 days, ECI
will provide an accompanying explanation
 Beyond ECI book being revised
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If child is referred to ECI 45 days prior to 3rd
birthday, parents should still access ECI
ECI and districts could share responsibility in
these cases
ECI and TEA will be having a joint TETN this
year
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Indicator 12
 98% statewide
 Excellent!
Indicator 7
 Preschool Outcomes
 Not enough information collected yet
 Teacher observation is tool commonly being used
across the state and this is a concern
 Need stable way to measure for reliable data
 Kathy Clayton asked for input
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Indicator 6 – Preschool Environments
 ESCs were given information to share
 The indicator is about students in mainstream
settings
 Based on 10 hours per week per student
 50% of the students in the environment must be
non-disabled to qualify as code 40, mainstream
 PEIMS changes coming
 Looking at 00 for Speech only 3 and 4 year olds
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Started with Charter Schools having dually
certified teachers delivering services in
general education settings
Last 3 legislative sessions pushed for staff
development for general ed. teachers
Concern is that severely involved students are
sitting in general ed settings receiving or NOT
receiving services
Funding system is not set up for dually
funded teachers
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Meeting will be held in November bringing
district personnel with general ed
Focus will be on tagged areas of Student
Attendance Accounting Handbook
Funding weights and system will be discussed
at the next legislative session
Co-teach is fine to utilize
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Documentation of related services is almost
ready to add last piece of guidance
Template is with monitoring and they are
looking at a pattern of service in districts
Frequency and duration guidance suggests a
weekly reference, but have not said it has to
be delivered weekly
Don’t use yearly or by semester
Break into smaller increments
Explain how delivered (text box)
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Description is about clarity
If read by someone not in attendance at ARD,
could you understand?
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Data looks fabulous!!!
Complaints to TEA are down
Complaints with areas of concern noted are
down
DPHs are down
Resolution Meetings, Settlements and
Mediations have increased
When TX compared to 7 of the largest states,
data is low and looks good
Appreciates districts hard work and efforts!
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89.1070 – Rule coming out regarding
graduation
Oct. 19 TETN
EOC and EOC modified
It is about the course student is enrolled in
rather than a grade
TEA not providing alignment guidance
Finalized in January 2011
Entering 9th graders in 2012 will be taking
EOC
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What dynamics lead to a DPH that runs the
full course?
 Input requested
 CTE will be providing guidance soon
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Can students in general ed classes be eligible
for TAKS M?
 TEA audits to trace how you made the decision. If
in general ed with an IEP that doesn’t support a
modified curriculum, then would be hard to justify
TAKS M
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How have you interpreted SPP 12, 90 day
timeline of IEP implementation? ARD date or
when service starts?
◦ ARD held by 3rd birthday and services would begin
within a reasonable time (5 days).
◦ Doesn’t apply to summer, as you have to consider
ESY based on ECI information.
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How do you address attendance by CTE
teachers at ARDs?
 Most have CTE teachers attending when entering or
exiting a CTE class.
 Keep CTE on standby to come into ARD if interest is
expressed and hadn’t planned on it.
 Can participate via phone.
 If changing CTE class, they should attend.
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Many have eliminated CTE classes for SE.
Cy Fair and Austin have CTE classes for SE, but
are taught by CTE teachers. Horticulture, OSHA
certification, Hospitality, Food Handling,
Community Based Instruction etc. Students get
State credit for the courses. Look at CTE rule,
Curriculum is modified.
NEISD – VACS were changed to be Transition
Specialists and co-teach in CTE classes. They
have an extra conference period to monitor
indicator 13. One of every HS campus. They
only have 13 students in VAC in NEISD.
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When do you do a needs assessment?
◦ Most do as part of the FIE
◦ Assess every 3 years and get Notice and Consent
◦ Update at annual ARD
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Humble ISD has a program called Speak
Social for students with aspersers syndrome.
In general ed., but work on social skills for
fourth of day. Staffed by a teacher and an IA.
Small program in 2 schools. They have
sensory rooms. It is a centralized program
Ysleta has program at all levels. Staffed by a
teacher and 3 IAs. Social Skills taught daily.
NEISD has Redirection Classes that are
inclusionary support.
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Garland has Adaptive behavior classes.
Corpus Christi brought in training by Lisa
Rogers from San Antonio on Visually
Speaking. Train teachers at the elementary
level that work with significantly behaviorally
disordered with aspergers. Program is called
PAL. Students are in general ed and receive
support in PAL.
NEISD and Garland also use Lisa Rogers for
training. NEISD does training for parents in
their community apartment.
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When doctors write a prescription for a
shortened day for students, do you comply?
 Review at ARD to determine appropriateness of
shortening day
 Consult with doctor after getting a release
 Could have district medical consultant discuss with
student’s physician
 Plan for transition back to full day while at ARD
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Austin ISD is using The People’s Institute from LA
to help with countering racism and ethnicity
issues. Also used ARRA funds to provide
intensive reading programs to schools where
referrals were high, mainly Blacks and Hispanics.
Corpus Is using Glenn Singleton, Courageous
Conversations.
Mesquite and Wichita Falls use Farrell Artis as a
consultant. He spends time in classes and
relates to teachers and students. Material is
research based. Uses some of Ruby Payne
material.
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Artis gives concrete suggestions to staffs.
Offers alternatives to suspension. Provides
positive behavioral supports and information
particular to cultures.
Garland uses Mac Hines and Jeanea Beal from
Word Smooth Co. for Diversity training
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Do SE students participate in the district’s credit
retrieval program or is there a separate program
for SE?
 SAISD includes SE. Teachers pair up with gen ed to
support students in CR. They use Plato and Nova Net.
Also has a Grant program for MS overage 8th graders to
help move from 8th to 9th.
 Humble uses Plato during Night School.
 Austin uses Odyssey and it is very good. They tried
Odyssey Ware, but not enough rigor. They hired 2
dropout recovery specialists to find dropouts and get
them back into school.
 SAISD brings dropouts back, but to an alternate campus.
Helps them save face and get reprogrammed.
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Wichita Falls has a program for 5th graders that
have failed TAKS or are 2 years or more below
grade level. Teachers loop with them for 2 years.
Houston has 9 schools in Apollo 20. They are
mainly reconstituted schools, have longer days,
best teachers and leaders. Tutors work with
students in groups of 3. Use Read 180. Will
have 20 schools and Twilight Schools on
evenings and weekends. They have laptops
available for on-line casework for students short
a few credits to graduate.
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Harlingen has a summer program
NEISD funded a teacher to at each campus to
work with overage MS and HS students not on
track for graduation
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Aldine – students works in custodial, clerical
and food services
Corpus – students work at CO in clerical
positions
SAISD – students work in custodial
transportation, police dept., CO and HR.
NISD – students work at SS and HR.
Garland – MACS which is Meeting and
Catering Service. Students sell snacks at CO
in a cart. They do mail delivery and
shredding. Job coaches are utilized.
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How have you increased participation in TAKS
and TAKS A and decreased TAKS M?
◦ NISD has Bridge Classes for Math for 8th graders as
a precursor for Algebra. Held at receiving HS
during summer school time. Also doing training for
SE and Gen Ed.
◦ Houston is looking at LRE issue and not having
access to gen ed. Also doing training on State
Assessment decisions, accommodations and
modifications.
◦ Aldine is doing training. Do not modify any
Benchmarks, no grades are given, diagnostic in
purpose only.
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Laredo Unified has an item analysis system to set
goals based on data.
Austin and NISD have Data Days. All campuses
participate. NISD also has a half day training
called No Child Left Behind with all campus
administration.
NEISD looks individually at the students.
Aldine and Katy were cited by TEA as they
weren’t going to ARD on all TAKS failures
including students in grades other than SSI grade
levels. Katy’s call came from Ron Roberts at TEA.
(Sherry question)
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How are you supporting Kinder aged
students? Are they serviced by PPCD or other
SE staff?
 Aldine clusters 5 year olds for support.
 Corpus has a 5-6 year old program that is
centralized and co-taught.
 NEISD has students either at home campus or in
Life Skills classes.
 Humble feels many Kinder teachers are unprepared
to deal with behaviors exhibited and have been
training them. When students turn 5, they look at
needs of the child and place accordingly.
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How are you servicing bilingual students in
PPCD?
◦ Some have bilingual programs. Some use itinerant
staff to provide reading support. Most have
bilingual IAs help provide support in classes.
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San Juan Alamo pays for 10 daycare spots for full day
placement of students that are speech only and focus
on language. Provide staff development for daycare
staff. Also work with HeadStart.
SAISD has HeadStart collaboration. They have fullday
4 year old program offered to all in district.
Humble has a program called Spark that provides
training for parents on working with their children.
NISD and NEISD have a staff childcare/PPCD program.
NISD has 18 units now. NISD has daycare
collaborations, but don’t pay for slots. NISD has
collaboration classes with PreKinder.
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What is working to reduce placements?
 Garland sends out a form letter to principals saying they
need to reduce numbers in ISS and OSS for SE students
and ask for them to submit their campus plan for doing
so. If plan is a good one, they may receive some funding
from SE to hire teachers to staff afterschool or Saturday
classes. They pay $30 per hour and transportation
costs. This is only for SE students. They send a list of
the count by campus out monthly for review by all.
 NEISD uses Ripple Effect software for teaching social
skills after school. Pay for 1 teacher and 1 IA and
transportation. Program runs M – Th and is 2 hrs. daily.
If no students attend, then staff don’t work or get paid.
 Humble has a Why Try Curriculum for all and Social Skills
assignments.
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NISD has decreased referrals for placements
by 20%. NEISD and NISD have guidelines for
discipline referrals. NISD has an area
coordinator that reviews all discipline
referrals coming into Pupil Personnel on SE
students. He will accept or send back to
campus if the campus has not followed the
guidelines.
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Aldine uses trial documentation sheets.
Cy-Fair uses a rubric.
Cy-Fair, Garland, NEISD and NISD are using
Review 360. Cy-Fair and Garland have
provided ipods to teachers to use to input
data. NEISD bought itouches for teachers.
 Some districts have HB teachers hired to work with
cognitively disabled students.
Some use content teachers (HQ) after school to
deliver services.
If students are in gen ed (40), they send a content
teacher and assign a SE case manager
Some are doing Virtual school. Some investigating
webcams, Skype etc.
Aldine has some teachers dually certified delivering
services.
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Are districts having many requests for 1 on 1
IAs?
◦ Aldine provides a sub in 6 week intervals and
gathers data to determine if a 1 on 1 is needed.
Does a plan to wean student from a 1 on 1 IA.
◦ NEISD and Harlingen use a Student Abilities
Assistance form developed by Frances Stetson.
◦ Corpus uses a Classroom Choreography as a needs
assessment and will share with others.
◦ NISD responds similarly as Aldine, but doesn’t have
defined 6 week time limits.
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Aldine had a DPH when a student moved from
CA with a 1 on 1 nurse. They provided a sub
nurse for 30 days and then found out CA
doesn’t provide any campus nurses. Their
school nurse refused to provide procedures
and services. Child needed blood sugar
checked and g tube feeding. Child
transferred to another school and now all is
well.
Richardson has floating nurses that do
procedures.
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NISD continues to have a program working
with NISD SE administration and advocates to
promote collaboration and communication.
Richardson has Power Hours for
administrators to train them on specific
topics. Offered at lunch (11 – 12) and lunch
is provided and from 4:30 to 5:30. Get
credit for attending. Limit of 15 per session.
Do these 1 x per month.
Aldine participates in SE component training
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SAISD participates in Principal Meetings
Humble has Coffee Chats which are halfday
with elementary and secondary
administrators. They train on IEP Facilitation
and do a Boot Camp in the summer.
NISD participates in Principal Meetings,
Elementary Curriculum updates with
administrators and the summer
Administrators Institute.
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Ft. Worth uses “It’s Not OK” campaign
Corpus has an on-line process for reporting
bullying. Tech staff funnel to schools.
Mesquite -Jed Baker does social skills training
for general ed.
Ysletta – Boys Town has a model for training
on bullying.
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Garland developed a resource library with books,
materials and laptops for check out. Purchases
were made based on interest at consultation
meeting. A letter was mailed to private schools
with information on accessing the library. The
materials remain property of the district. Also
serve students for speech, OT, PT and staff
development.
NEISD bought reading materials to assist with RtI.
Provide speech services, also.
SAISD hires a consultant to provide speech
services. Also provides staff development.
Humble bought social skills and reading
curriculum. Provides speech and OT.
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Humble said many Treatment Centers are not
under TEA for the way restraints are documented.
They follow the Family Code. Districts remain
responsible for documenting restraints as we are
required to do. Humble had a DPH regarding a
student parents placed residentially, Garrett F vs.
Humble ISD
Non-Public Day School monitoring falls under the
same monitoring system as districts. If you place
a student residentially, you as a district are
responsible for progress monitoring, state
assessment, HQ, and restraint documentation.
You have to work collaboratively with the Center
to receive the needed documentation.
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Some pay for surrogate parents to attend
ARDs. NEISD pays $25 per hour. Humble
pays an initial $125 fee for training and an
hourly fee for participation. Cy-Fair and NISD
do not pay. NISD does have an end of year
celebration luncheon for surrogates. NISD
advertises on our webpage and ran a cover
story. Worked with Express News to run a
story.
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McAllen has all activities after school so students
do not miss instructional time. Set parameters
for participation. It is open to all, but must
commit to attending after school practices.
Works well.
Corpus has events and practices after school.
They have a small budget. APE coach gets a
stipend to run the program.
Humble has APE coach run the program and he
gets a stipend. One big event and students are
bused. Mostly after school. Golf is a big sport
for them. Students can have letter jackets.
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Aldine has 1 event for the district. Buddies are
encouraged. Students receive medals. Have a
Banquet at the end of the year.
NEISD has their practices integrated through APE, but
it is not part of their IEPs. They have a big end of
year event. SO been in place for 40+ years in NEISD.
They have bowling, basketball and track and field.
NISD is similar to NEISD. SO is run by our APE
program. We have a Spring Track and Field event
where all campuses participate. Principals walk the
opening parade with their athletes, lighting of the
torch ceremony, parents encouraged to attend.
Students have Buddy Clubs that attend. HS bands
and cheerleaders and mascots attend.
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Cy-Fair had an upset parent that wanted a
student that was not enrolled in the district to
participate. Did not allow. Students get
letter jackets.
Austin’s SO is run by the Athletic Director for
the district.
Brownsville has uniforms and letter jackets.
They took 300 to State SO. Practice is during
the day. They do bowling and track. They
participate in local, area and state meets.
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Cy-Fair does their own billing through SE
Manager. They brought in 4 million $. They
have 1 professional and 1 secretary dedicated
to the program.
Aldine collected $6million. Data sent in
weekly.
NEISD bills through SE Manager for
transportation, personal care, speech. Had
collected $3.5 million minus personal care.
Garland uses TASB and collected $5 million
NISD uses TASB and collected ????
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Most districts are going to an electronic
format. Download into a management
system for gen ed teachers to access IEPs.
Most are charging for records release, .10 to
.15 per page
Some maintain audit files for 1 to 3 years at
campuses or central location and then send
to district storage facility.
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Are districts reducing CBIs due to budget
issues?
 NEISD and NISD have guidelines for CBIs describing
what they are and how they are linked to the IEP.
 NEISD has campuses submit a budget
 Humble screens requests. Must relate to IEP.
 Wichita Falls bought 14 passenger buses (3). Don’t
need CDL license.
 Brownsville was cited in a finance audit in this area
due to too much “eating” going on. Now require
lesson plans be submitted.
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Humble has connections with a Community College.
They also have a separate campus, Mosaic Program.
Corpus has a separate campus after students finish 4
years at the HS. Diverse student group, MR and ED.
NEISD has an alternative campus (NETS) and has
many students in the community.
Austin has a GO Project for the most severe students.
They go to a job site if 18-22 years old and finished
4 years of HS. They have classrooms at job sites.
NISD has a separate campus, Reddix. Some students
remain at HS and others split day between Reddix
and HS.
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Corpus has 1 per HS. They teach SE classes.
Hired Transition Facilitators to train VACs to
be in that role. VAC numbers have reduced
greatly.
Cy-Fair has 4 VACs. Promoting job carving.
Students take a larger job and carve out a
portion that the student can do for 2 – 3
hours. VACS are working with this program.
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Most are paying stipends for SLPs
Some continue to pay SE teacher stipends.
◦ Austin pays $1500 and another $1500 if bilingual.
◦ Humble pays retention stipends which range from
$2000 - $4000 if stay in SE position It is a tired
structure.
◦ Aldine added 5 days to Life Skills teachers, PPCD
and Adaptive Behavior teachers contract for staff
development. This has helped keep staff in same
positions and avoid retraining as much.
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Spring Alliance will be in McAllen.
If your Superintendent is a member of the
Superintendent’s Alliance Group, you can be a
member and invited to SE Alliance Meetings.
Let me know and I will make sure you get on
the list.