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Quarterly Chronicle

for the Child Find, Evaluation, and ARD Supports Network

QuarterlyChroniclefor the Child Find, Evaluation, and ARD SupportsNetwork

About us

Project Purpose

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) is committed to providing effective supports and guidance to Texas public schools in their implementation of strong and effective programs for students with disabilities. The purpose of this project is to increase capacity in Texas local education agencies (LEAs) regarding the implementation of effective practices related to child find, evaluation (including full and individual initial evaluations (FIIEs)), and the admission, review, and dismissal (ARD) process. This will be accomplished through the development of easily accessible resources and professional development opportunities, both of which must reflect best practices regarding adult learning theory.

Check out our FREE TEALearn courses!

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NEW!!!

The self-paced, online course provides an understanding of the SB IEP process for gathering student data, including the full and individual evaluation (FIE), to write the student’s present levels of academic achievement and functional performance (PLAAFP) statement, to draft measurable annual goals with short-term objectives/benchmarks, if appropriate, and to create a data collection system for monitoring progress of the annual goals.


Click HERE to enroll in the course.

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This self-paced, online course is intended to provide information, guidance, and best practice for successfully achieving the expectations, roles, and responsibilities of an ARD committee manager, including scheduling ARD committee meetings, preparing and finalizing required ARD committee paperwork, facilitating the ARD committee meeting, and supporting families and school personnel with the ARD committee processes.


Click HERE to enroll in the course.

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This self-paced online course is intended to provide participants with a fundamental understanding of the definition and purpose of child find and requirements for Local Education Agencies (or LEAs).


Click HERE to enroll in the course.

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This webinar consists of content related to PLAAFPs (the federal law and state guidance related to PLAAFPs that identify a student’s strengths, baseline data, and critical areas of need), annual academic goals (the purpose and importance of measurable annual goals and a four-step process for developing annual academic goals), and annual functional goals (the purpose and importance of functional goals and a four-step process for developing a functional goal).

Click HERE to access the webinar.

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This webinar summarizes the amendments to 19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Chapter §89.1040(c)(9) and eligibility criteria for specific learning disability (SLD); identifies the key update to the Texas Dyslexia Handbook 2021 related to evaluation; states the evaluation procedures for dyslexia as a specific learning disability under federal and state law; reviews the required and additional data to gather and interpret for an evaluation for dyslexia; and outlines the role of the multidisciplinary team to review data for the determination of dyslexia as a specific learning disability.

Click HERE to access the webinar.

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This webinar addresses the unique characteristics of culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) learners in schools, summarizes the relationship between language and culture, and provides practices that support appropriate special education referrals for CLD learners.

Click HERE to access the webinar.

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COMING SOON! Standards-Based IEP Process Training for Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs)

This training focuses on connecting the full and individual evaluation (FIE) data to the development of the present levels of academic achievement and functional performance (PLAAFP) and drafting measurable annual goals (and short-term objectives/benchmarks, if appropriate). Participants will understand the importance of these components and how the alignment results in a well-developed program for students with a speech impairment.


This course will be offered face-to-face and/or virtually at all 20 education service centers during the 2023-2024 school year.

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Revised February 2023! Related Services for Students with Disabilities-Questions and Answers

This document was developed to answer questions the Texas Education Agency has received about related services for students with disabilities. As TEA receives more questions, this document will be updated.


Click HERE to access the document.

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Revised March 2023 - Documenting the Frequency, Location, and Duration of Services

The Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) (7) requires that the Individualized Education Program (IEP) for a student receiving special education and related services contain a statement of the “anticipated frequency, location, and duration of those services.”

This document outlines documenting frequency, duration, and location of services in the student's IEP.


Click HERE to access the document.

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88th Texas Legislative Regular Session Updates

Look for updates from TEA regarding the bills that will go into effect from the 88th Texas Legislature.


Click HERE to sign up for updates from TEA.

Student-Centered Transitions Network (SCTN) April 2023 Newsletter

The SCTN publishes a monthly newsletter to support creating new pathways to successful adult lives for students with disabilities.


Click HERE to access the newsletters.

SPEDTex Newsletters

The Special Education Information Center, or SPEDTex, publishes a monthly newsletter to provide information and resources to help families understand their child’s disability, rights, and responsibilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and facilitate collaboration that supports the development and delivery of services to children with disabilities in our state.


Click HERE to access the monthly newsletter for March 2023, April 2023, and May 2023.

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Special Education Monthly Newsletters

Each month, TEA publishes a Special Education Newsletter. These newsletters contain announcements, upcoming dates, department news, and links to new resources and guidance. Click on the link to access the monthly newsletter.

March 2023

April 2023

May 2023

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NEW Fast Facts on Students with TBI Served Under IDEA Part B


The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) released a new OSEP Fast Facts on Students Identified With Traumatic Brain Injuries.

OSEP Fast Facts looks at data collected under section 618 of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This latest Fast Facts addresses data focused on students identified with traumatic brain injury.

“In school year 2021-22, students with traumatic brain injury were less likely to be served inside a regular class 80% or more of the day than all students with disabilities,” according to an OSEP blog post.



Click HERE to access the OSEP Fast Facts: Students Identified With Traumatic Brain Injury.


Click HERE to access other OSEP Fast Facts.

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OSERS Blog - Discipline and Behavior Series

Valerie C. Williams, director of the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), released the latest blogs in a series on discipline and behavior.

Topics include:


Please share these blog posts and resources with your staff, district leadership, and parents/families.

OSEP Newsletters

Stay informed with the latest news coming out of the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services and the Department of Education.


Access these monthly newsletters with the latest information from the Office of Special Education Programs.

March 2023

April 2023

May 2023