Weekly Update 4.16.2015
TEA Information
Amendment Deadline for 2014-2015 Special Education Consolidated Grant Application
The 2014-2015 Special Education Consolidated Grant Application is currently being adjusted to implement revised final amounts for the IDEA-B Formula grant. Although the eGrants screen displays April 20, 2015, as the amendment due date, this date is only displayed temporarily until the adjustments are completed. Please note that the actual amendment due date is June 12, 2015, at 5:00 p.m. Central Time.
Please submit any questions through the TEA Help Desk.
Updates to the Legal Framework
The Legal Framework has updated the following Frameworks:
· April 14, 2015
o TRANSITION SERVICES
o CHILDREN IN SUBSTITUTE CARE
o RULE OF CONSTRUCTION
o STATE AND DISTRICTWIDE ASSESSMENTS
o REVIEW OF EXISTING EVALUATION DATA
o AMENDMENT WITHOUT A MEETING
o ANNUAL GOALS
o PRESENT LEVELS
o DETERMINATION OF ELIGIBILITY
o SUMMARY OF PERFORMANCE
o SPECIAL FACTORS
o SUPPLEMENTARY AIDS AND SERVICES, SPECIAL EDUCATION, RELATED SERVICES
o EXTENDED SCHOOL YEAR SERVICES
· April 8, 2015
o CHILDREN WHO TRANSFER
· March 31, 2015
o Parent's Guide to the Admission, Review, and Dismissal Process Publication updated
· March 23, 2015
o Notice of Procedural Safeguards Publication updated
Access to the comparison documents is through the Administrator Login at http://framework.esc18.net/display/Webforms/LandingPage.aspx (bottom right of Legal Framework front page). Note the font size on the Administrator Login is very small, so you may have to enlarge your viewing screen and be sure to scroll the bottom right of the screen. The Local Education Agency Director of Special Education is the designee who has this login. The Change Document(s) are available from the tabs via the administrator’s login on the Legal Framework. The change items that are underlined will have change/comparison documents and may be opened by clicking on the title/link. The Legal Framework is in the process of finalizing comparison documents and will be posting them as available. Region 4 will post them to the Special Education Director’s portal available. Not all frameworks that are updated will have change documents. Frameworks that had significant changes will have comparison documents posted. Frameworks that have minor or only cosmetic changes will not have comparison documents posted. There are still many more frameworks to be updated and information will be provided as available.
Determination of Eligibility for STAAR A and Spring 2015 Testing
This correspondence is to remind you of the process of determining eligibility for the STAAR A test for the 2015 spring administration.
It is important that local school districts ensure that appropriate assessments are selected and administered to students with disabilities, independent of state accountability considerations. For students who are served by special education or who participate in a 504 program because of dyslexia, it is the responsibility of Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) and 504 committees to make decisions about which state assessment—STAAR or STAAR A—is the appropriate test to administer.
TEA has provided training and explicit guidance to help ARD and 504 committees make decisions that are in the best interest of students with disabilities. At this point in the school year, the decision to administer STAAR or STAAR A should already have been made and documented for each individual student based on the state’s eligibility requirements and the types of accommodations he or she is successfully using in the classroom to access instruction.
In the absence of new information related to student eligibility and accommodations previously not considered, ARD and 504 committees should not reconsider those testing decisions at this time (OR before spring 2015 testing occurs).
If you have questions regarding STAAR A eligibility, please contact the TEA Student Assessment Division at (512) 463-9536 or .
For Your Information
USDOE OSEP Resources on Intensive Interventions
How can state education agency staff, district leaders, and school staff use MTSS to improve outcomes for students with disabilities? As part of the new Results Driven Accountability (RDA) initiative the Office of Special Education Programs (OESP) launched the National Center for Systemic Improvement (NCSI) to help states transform their systems for supporting students with disabilities.
· Together with NCSI, the National Center on Intensive Intervention (NCII) will host a webinar, Results Driven Accountability and Intensive Intervention: Using MTSS to Improve Outcomes for Students with Disabilities on Wednesday April 22nd, from 3:00-4:15 EST. MTSS offers an organizational framework for providing a continuum of interventions and supports based on student need. Click here to register for the webinar.
o Within a MTSS framework, intensive intervention supports students with disabilities who are not making adequate progress, students who present with very low academic achievement and/or high-intensity or high-frequency behavior problems, and students nonresponsive to secondary intervention delivered with fidelity. In this webinar, Dr. Chris Lemons, Dr. Chris Riley-Tillman, and Dr. Laura Kuchle will describe the contextual factors for successful implementation of intensive intervention including evaluation of key components, the importance of fidelity implementation, staff and stakeholder training, and addressing barriers to implementation. State education agency staff, district leaders, special educators, classroom teachers, interventionists, school psychologists, instructional coaches, and technical assistance providers are encouraged to attend and learn what Results Driven Accountability means for school-based staff and all stakeholders who serve students with disabilities.
· The NCII works in conjunction with many data-based individualization (DBI) experts and is partially funded by the USDOE OSEP and is part of OSEP's Technical Assistance and Dissemination Network
o Weblink http://www.intensiveintervention.org/about-us#sthash.NdLMvz8E.dpuf
o Tools Charts http://www.intensiveintervention.org/resources/tools-charts
o Resources http://www.intensiveintervention.org/resources
o Implementation support including presentations http://www.intensiveintervention.org/implementation
Could one of your campuses be a National Champion School Fitness Center?
The National Foundation for Governors’ Fitness Councils (NFGFC) aims to improve youth fitness by recognizing schools that actively promote physical activity and wellness to students. The NFGFC will select three schools in Texas to receive equipment for a state-of-the-art fitness center. Deadline to nominate is June 15, 2015. All public elementary and middle schools in Texas may apply for their chance to win a $100,000 Live Positively Fitness Center! Each center includes strength training equipment, cardio fitness equipment, and interactive exercise games. The award includes customized design, delivery and installation of the equipment within the school’s existing building structure. Access the nomination form at: http://natgovfit.org/nominate-your-school/ (Scroll down and click on State of Texas seal.) Best of luck!
Feed Families, Not Landfills
Each year, Americans across the country are making difficult choices. Seniors are forced to choose between buying food or buying medicine; parents are forced to go hungry so their children don't; and working families are forced to choose between paying their utilities or putting food on the table. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, around 14 percent of American households do not get enough food to live active, healthy lifestyles. What makes this sad fact even harder to digest is this- a significant portion of the food tossed into our nations' landfills is wholesome, edible food. By redirecting that unspoiled food from the landfill to our neighbors in need, an organization can support its local community; reduce its environmental impact, and save money.
What can you do? Volunteer, donate, or provide information to make connections or… non-perishable and unspoiled perishable food can be donated to local food banks, soup kitchens, pantries, and shelters. Donated food includes leftovers from events and surplus food inventory. Check with your local food bank or food rescue operation (soup kitchen, shelter, etc.) to find out what items they will accept. Many resources exist to help you find a local food bank or food rescue program in your area.
· Feeding America is a national network of food banks that is the largest charitable hunger relief organization in America.
· Locate a food bank near you.
· Food Pantries allows you to search for food banks by state or by zip code.
· AmpleHarvest.org - This nationwide effort aims to educate, encourage and enable gardeners with extra produce to easily donate to a local food pantry. Gardeners can follow a link from this page to donate their garden surplus.
· Rock and Wrap It Up! is an independent anti-poverty organization devoted to developing innovative greening solutions to the pressing issues of hunger and poverty in America.
· Society of St. Andrew - For over 30 years, Society of St. Andrew has worked with donors, volunteers, and farmers to glean nutritious excess produce from fields and orchards after harvest and deliver it to people in need across the United States.
See U.S. Environmental Protection Agency information at http://www.epa.gov/waste/conserve/foodwaste/fd-donate.htm
And… How to Donate Specifically in Houston?
· Houston Food Bank http://www.houstonfoodbank.org/donate/donate-food/
o Thursday, May 7, 2015 – 7 area Whole Foods Market will donate 5% of the day's net sales from its seven Houston-area locations to the Houston Food Bank.
Houston Museum District… For Free!
Check out information for the many opportunities to visit the Houston Museum District… for free:
· Free Admission times posted at http://houstonmuseumdistrict.org/free-admission-times/
· Houston Museum of Natural Science
o The Educator Event at the– Saturday, January 23, 2016.
o Educators have the opportunity to view special exhibitions at HMNS free of charge on the Tuesday following the exhibit debut.
o Information at http://www.hmns.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=722&Itemid=350
Inspiring a Generation to Create: Critical Components of Creativity in Children
Inspiring a Generation to Create: Critical Components of Creativity in Children (2015) synthesizes more than 150 studies from various academic fields contributing to our understanding of creativity. The paper asserts that environment and experience determine our creativity potential and provides a new framework of seven key skills associated with creativity. The paper summarizes relevant empirical research related to each skill and provides practical tips and sample activities to promote the skill in children ages 6-14. The authors propose seven critical components of creativity: imagination and originality; flexibility; decision-making; communication & self-expression; motivation; collaboration; and action and movement. These are organized across three childhood developmental areas: cognitive, social/emotional, and physical. Download document and/or an executive summary at http://www.centerforchildhoodcreativity.org/research-initiatives. This paper was funded partially by Disney Citizenship and developed by the Center for Childhood Creativity.
Atlantic Hurricane Season begins June 1
The Atlantic Hurricane Season begins June 1 and continues through November 30th of every year. An individual’s ability to recover from an emergency tomorrow may depend on the planning and preparation done today. The following information provides tips which individuals with disabilities and others with access and functional needs, and the people who assist and support them, can take to prepare for emergencies before they happen.
· Do you or anyone you know need some assistance during times of an emergency event? The state of Texas presents the STEAR (State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry, http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem/stear/public.htm ) Program. The STEAR program is a free, voluntary registry that provides local emergency planners and emergency responders with additional information on the needs in their community.
o A STEAR account can be created by
§ going to https://publicregistry.csr.utexas.edu/enroll/newuser
§ dialing 2-1-1 or use your video telephone relay option of choice to contact 211 at 877-541-7905 (Texas Information Referral Network)
o Who should register?
§ People with Disabilities
§ People with access and functional needs such as:
· People who have limited mobility
· People who have communication barriers
· People who require additional medical assistance during an emergency event
· People who require transportation assistance
· People who require personal care assistance
· Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Department of Homeland Security videos on
o Preparing makes sense for people with disabilities and other access and functional needshttp://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/videos/78827
o Conversations with FEMA about the importance of preparedness for the disability community https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/videos/79880
· Texas Prepares Resources http://www.texasprepares.org/
· Stock a basic supply kit http://www.ready.gov/kit and stock with custom essentials needed for the person with a disability
Region 4 Upcoming Professional Development
Social Communication: Linking Assessment and Interventions
Evaluating the social communication skills of students with autism and addressing needs in this area can be a challenge. Join this 2-day training to gain insight into how to assess social communication deficits and implement interventions to support students with autism in the classroom. During this training, participants will learn more about 1) evaluating social communication deficits in students with autism using formal and informal assessments, 2) identifying academic issues that students with autism face, and 3) addressing these issues in the classroom setting.
Session ID: 1082910
Dates: April 29 & 30, 2015
Time: 9:00 – 4:00
Fee: $90
Contact information: Cathy Williams, , 713 744 6801
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA): Skills Training Institute
Join this three-day institute designed to provide educators with the knowledge and skills required to implement the principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA). Participants will learn of the myths and facts of ABA and leave the series with knowledge of the methods to increase, decrease, and refine behavior. Those who attend will also receive 2 CDs: Autism and ABA: A How-To Handbook for Teachers and Instructional Objectives Handbook. Session and materials costs are partially funded through state or federal grants.
Dates: July 28, 29, & 30, 2015 Session ID: 1143431 Instructors: Beverly Braman, Ph.D. BCBA-D; Susan Catlett, Ph.D. BCBA-D Time: 9:00 – 4:00 Location: Crowne Plaza Brookhollow Contact Information: Cathy Williams, , 713.744.6801
The Journey from Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) to Intervention
Join this workshop to actively participate in an in-depth examination of the intervention process….the journey from functional behavior assessment to intervention development. During this two-day training, participants will 1) learn and practice a variety of data collection methods, 2) practice completing and interpreting a functional behavior assessment, 3) identify replacement behaviors, 4) write behavior goals, and 5) select research-based interventions. Participants are also encouraged to bring examples of behavior goals they have written and interventions they have developed to use as examples and receive feedback.