Weekly Update (7.20.2017)
TEA Information
Amendment Deadline Extended for 2016-2017 Special Education Consolidated Grant Application
Budget adjustments have been completed for the 2016-2017 IDEA-B Formula Grant in the 2016-2017 Special Education Consolidated Grant Application. The eGrants system has been reopened to allow amendments for the 2016-2017 Special Education Consolidated Grant Application. The new amendment deadline is July 17, 2017.
LEAs are encouraged to review the When to Amend the Application document on the Administering a Grant page of the TEA website to determine if an amendment is necessary.
For questions about the revised final allocations, please contact your Special Education Consolidated Grant Application negotiator in the Grants Administration Division at or (512) 463-8525.
High Cost Fund Survey
TEA Division of Special Populations requests feedback on the High Cost Fund State Application and Plan. The following survey link will be open until August 31, 2017. Additional feedback or general comments can be made through the High Cost Fund mailbox at .
The survey link and information can also be found on the TEA HCF website.
TEA releases results for statewide STAAR® grades 3–8
AUSTIN – The Texas Education Agency (TEA) today released results for the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR®) reading and mathematics tests in grades 3, 4, 6, and 7; writing tests in grades 4 and 7; science tests in grades 5 and 8; and the social studies test in grade 8.
According to results for the spring 2017 administration of STAAR, 76 percent of third-grade students passed the STAAR mathematics test.
MATH / GRADE / 2016-20173 / 76%
4 / 75%
6 / 75%
7 / 68%
Seventy-two percent of third grade and seventh grade students passed the STAAR reading test.
READING / GRADE / 2016-20173 / 72%
4 / 70%
6 / 67%
7 / 72%
In addition, STAAR writing tests were administered in grades 4 and 7.
WRITING / GRADE / 2016-20174 / 63%
7 / 68%
Fifth graders posted a passing rate of 73 percent in STAAR science. The eighth-grade passing rate in science was 74 percent.
SCIENCE / GRADE / 2016-20175 / 73%
8 / 74%
In addition, eighth graders posted a 62 percent passing rate in social studies.
SOCIAL STUDIES / GRADE / 2016-20178 / 62%
TEA released preliminary results for STAAR reading and math in grades 5 and 8 in April. District and campus level results for those assessments are available at To review state-level reports for grades 3 through 8, visit the Texas Education Agency website at
Progress in the General Curriculum (PGC) Network Survey
The Progress in the General Curriculum (PGC) network is a statewide network that works in conjunction with the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to develop resources that focus on all students with disabilities gaining access to and showing progress in the general curriculum through curricular and instructional adaptations in the least restrictive environment.
The PGC network is asking for your input so we can enhance current resources and develop future resources that are useful and relevant to your needs. Please take a few minutes to answer the questions in this survey. Click on this link to start the survey. Please forward the survey to general and special education district and campus personnel.
For additional information, contact Cara Wyly, M. Ed,Project Manager, PGC Network
Education Service Center, Region 20 at or (210) 370-5413
For Your Information
Transition Webinar Summer Series
The Secondary Transition and Post-school Results (STPSR) network is a statewide network that works in conjunction with the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to promote communication and collaboration between stakeholders and a comprehensive, coordinated, transition service delivery system in Texas that leads to attainment of identified post-school goals for every student.
The Secondary Transition network is excited to offer a free series of online, transition focused professional development. See attached flyer for more information.
VAC Online Rules and Regulations – closes on July 31st (seats still available)
Webinar 1: Overview of Person-Centered Thinking – July 19 or 20
(must register for Webinar 1 to access Webinar 2 and 3)
Webinar 2: Powerful Planning to Support Quality Instruction – July 25 or 26
Webinar 3: Preparing for Student Directed IEP Meetings Using Person-Centered Thinking – August 10 or 11
Webinar 1: Overview of Social Security – August 1
Webinar 2: Student-Earned Income Exclusion – August 2
Webinar 3: Impairment-Related Work Expense and Pass – August 3
Job Coaching for Success: UNTWise 2-week Online Course – August 7-18 or August 14-25
For additional information, contact Carla Johnson,Network Lead, Secondary Transition Network
Education Service Center, Region 11 at or (817) 740-3614
2017-2018 AGCStakeholder Meetings
Discuss current national, state and local information on curriculum, assessment and instructional issues as it relates to students with disabilities accessing the general educationcurriculum. Identify trends and issues affecting districts/campuses across the region, give feedback on services provided and those needed by Region 4 ESC and network with other professionals across the region. Registration is limited to stakeholder members. This group will be comprised of staff designated by LEA Directors of Special Education. Click on the link below to enter your AGC Stakeholder designee(s).
LEAs and Charters may identify representatives to attend our 2017-2018 AGCStakeholder Meetings. We are able to accommodate (1) representative per LEA/Charter per stakeholder group.
2017-2018 AGC Stakeholder Meetings: Secondary
October 10, 2017 8:30-11:30
November 28, 2017 8:30-11:30
February 13, 2018 8:30-11:30
2017-2018 AGCStakeholder Meetings: Elementary
October 10, 2017 12:30-3:30
November 28, 2017 12:30-3:30
February 13, 2018 12:30-3:30
For additional information, contact Cynthia Barrett, Ph.D., at or 713-744-6343 or Townsley Raposa at or 713-744-4470.
Region 4 Upcoming Professional Development
Region 4 Autism Symposium
Join this 3-day symposium to gain the most recent information on autism research and issues related to autism from birth to transition. Keynote speaker, Temple Grandin, Ph.D., will share her personal experiences as an individual with autism. Additionally, leaders in the field, Celine Saulnier, Ph.D., Paula Kluth, Ph.D., and Peter Gerhardt, Ed.D. will provide information regarding research on the etiology and early identification of autism, strategies to support students with autism in the classroom, and issues related to adolescence and early adulthood.
Session ID: 1143551
Dates: August 1, 2, & 3, 2017
Time: 8:30 – 4:00
Fee: $200
Contact information: Cathy Williams, , 713.744.6801