Weekly Update (7.21.2016)
TEA Information
2016-2017 Nonpublic Residential Maximum Daily Rate
TEA has just reported that the new 2016-2017 Nonpublic Residential Maximum Daily Rate has been increased to $260.95.
SPP Data Entry for SPP 7, 11, 12, 13, and 14
The SPP Data Collection period has ended for all applications. Data must be entered into the TEASE/TEAL application by August 10, 2016. Note that this year you do not need to enter assessment tools into the SPP 7 application. You are required to keep a list of those tools in case you are asked what was used to provide information to inform your ratings on the Child Observation Summary Form (COSF). Remember all students between the ages of 3-5 (including some kindergarten students) who are receiving special education services must have an entry and an exit COSF. Should you have any questions about any of the SPP applications, contact the appropriate individual listed below.
SPP 7–Sonja Hollan,0
SPP 11 and SPP 12–Kara Zwolinski,2
SPP 13 and SPP 14–Karen Pepkin,0
Legal Framework: Electronic Submission of Local Education Agency (LEA) Policies and Procedures
Pursuant to 34 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) §300.220, each LEA must have on file with the TEA its policies and procedures that are consistent with State policies and procedures governing special education.The online policies and procedures format allows districts the opportunity to make this veryimportant information readily available to community stakeholders, as well as provide the State with an effective and efficient way to manage this federal requirement.
You can generate the District Status Report for Policies using the LF Authoring Account system. Start by going to the Legal Framework; click the link on the bottom right for the Administrator link to log in to your LF Authoring Account. Once in the account, select Reporting, Status Report, and report type Policies and Procedures. Review thereport and make any needed changes. If you need to review the process for linking, refer to the Resource Library Training Materials.TEA has verified that policy linking/uploading for all LEAs (districts and charter schools) is to be completed by October31, 2016.
Region 4 will be providing technical assistance tosupport LEAswiththelinkingprocess.
Session ID: 1242377Session ID: 1242385
Date: September 21, 2016Date: September 27, 2016
Time: 9:00a.m. – 12:00p.m.ORTime: 9:00a.m. – 12:00p.m.
Location: Region 4 ESCLocation: Region 4
Fee $0Fee $0
For information or assistance, contact the Legal r 432.561.4332.
For additional information, contact Kara Zwolinski r 713.744.6562, or Jerry r 713.744.6393.
Legal Framework:Identification of District Transition and Employment Services Designee and Web link to Transition Employment Guide
House Bill (HB) 617, 83rd Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2013 amended Section 29.011 of the Texas Education Code. The state law now requireseach local education agency (LEA) or shared services arrangement (SSA) to:
(1) Designate at least one employee to serve as the LEA or SSA designee on transition and employment services for students enrolled in special education programs.LEAs and SSAs must enter transition and employment services designee information into the authoring system of the Legal Frameworkand
(2) Post the Texas Transition and Employment Guide (Guide) on their district or charter websites, if they maintain a website, and provide students/parents with information on how to access the Guide. LEAs and SSAs must enter the web link to the Guide on their website into the authoring system of the Legal Framework.
A complete instructional guide on how to enter and check the information hasbeen updated and can be found in the Resource Library--Training Material folder in the special education director workbench within the Legal Framework.It is entitled “2015 Transition Employment Designee Information.”
Please use the following link to update or submit the information via the authoring system of the Legal Framework:
For additional information, contact Kara Zwolinski at or 713.744.6562, or Jerry Klekotta r 713.744.6393.
For Your Information
Special Education Director Meetings—New Dates!!
Due to unexpected scheduling conflicts we have changed the dates for the last 3 Special Education Director Meetings. (Note that these new dates are not on Thursday.)
If you have already registered for the Director Meetings, your registration will roll over to the new dates. Please note the new dates in your calendar.
If you have not yet registered, please do so with the Session IDs below.
September 29,2016(Thursday)Session# 1220015
December 7, 2016 (Wednesday)*Session# 1220016
February 14,2017(Tuesday)*Session# 1220017
April 26,2017(Wednesday)*Session# 1220018
*New Date
Parent’s Guide to the ARD Process – Additional Distribution
We are pleased to announce that almost 20,000 new April 2016 ARD Guides were delivered to Region 4 districts and charter schools at the end of May/beginning of June!
After distribution to Region 4 and seven other ESCs, we realized that more ARD guides were printed than expected. If you would like an additional shipment of ARD Guides for your district/charter school, please completed the survey by clicking on the link:
Please note that there is a limited supply and ARD Guides will be distributed on a “first-come-first-serve” basis as well as the number requested may need to be adjusted based on the supply.
Region 4 Upcoming Professional Development
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 andfacts of ABAand leave theseries withknowledge of themethods to increase, decrease, and refine behavior. Those who attend will also receive 2 CDs:Autism and ABA: A How-To Handbook forTeachersandInstructional Objectives Handbook.
Session ID: 1219171
Dates: July 26, 27, & 28, 2016
Time: 9:00 – 4:00
Location: Crowne Plaza Brookhollow
Fee: $135
Contact information: Cathy Williams, , 713.744.6801
New for 2016-2017: Transformational Special Education Leadership Series
In a leadership position for Special Education in schools in the state of Texas? Or want to be? Join us for the Transformational Special Education Leadership series. Topics include:
- Transformational Special Education Leadership
- Crucial Conversation and Accountability Skills for the Special Education Leader
- What Every Special Education Leader Needs to Know About Resource Allocation, Supervision, Legal, Compliance, and Fiscal/Budget, Issues
- Instructional Leadership and Program Supervision in Special Education
- Influencer: The New Science of Leading Change in Special Education
- Key Components to Take the Next Step in Leading for the Future
This session is designed for current and future leaders of special education including Directors, Assistant Directors, Administrators, Coordinators, Supervisors, Senior Specialists, Leads, and ARD Facilitators. Participants will be encouraged to operationalize leadership by identifying and focusing on a personal leadership application. Topic specific resources for each day will be provided during the series. Attendance and participation during each respective session is mandatory for receipt of training materials for that day. This seven-day series will be provided throughout the 2016-2017 school year. Registration is limited to 50 participants. Registration fee will not be prorated. Session and materials are partially or fully funded by state or federal grants.
Session ID: 1170966
Dates:
- 9/15/2016
- 10/5/2016
- 11/4/2016
- 11/15/2016
- 1/11/2017
- 2/8/2017
- 3/1/2017
Time: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Location: Region 4
Fee $245
Contact: Linda De Zell Hall, Ph.D., 713-744-6399
ARD Facilitator Networking Meeting (2016-17)
Networking opportunity for ARD Facilitators. Participants will review legal updates, facilitation skills, and current topics related to implementation of Texas Administrative Code (TAC) 89.1196 Individualized Education Program (IEP) Facilitation at the local level. This networking opportunity is designed for special education staff who are serving in the role of ARD Facilitator in districts or charter schools. Materials and resources are partially or fully funded by state and federal funds.
Note: Participants in this Networking Meeting will need to have completed the online modules for Facilitating the IEP process provided by Region 4 and 13 Education Service Centers. Register online for the following sessions. Information on submitting evidence of course completion will be provided.
- Region 4 ESC: The 4 Tenets of IEP Meeting Leadership and Facilitation – Modules 1–4 (6 hours credit for all modules). Click here to search ◦
- Module 1: Foundational Knowledge
- Module 2: IEP Preparation & Planning
- Module 3: Problem Solving & Consensus Building
- Module 4: Breaking Through an Impasse
- Region 13 ESC: The Basics: Facilitating ARDs/IEP Meetings (18 hours credit) Course # FA1219851. Click here to search.
Topic specific resources for each day will be provided during the series. Attendance and participation during each respective session is mandatory for receipt of training materials for that day. This networking opportunity is not designed as a training, it is designed to support districts and charters implementing facilitation of IEPs. It is recommended that participants attend all days. A resource will be provided only at the first session that will be used throughout the year. Registration is limited to 50 participants. Special Education Director of the participant’s district or charter will be contacted to verify extent to which local facilitation is being implemented.
Session ID: 1171248
Dates:
- 9/13/2016
- 10/11/2016
- 1/10/2017
- 2/7/2017
- 4/4/2017
Time: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Location: Region 4
Contact: Linda De Zell Hall, Ph.D., 713-744-6399
Residential Placement Application Updates
NOTE: TEA HAS PROJECTED CHANGES IN THE RESIDENTIAL APPLICATION/NONPUBLIC DAY SCHOOL APPLICATION PROCESS MOVING TO ONLINE SUBMISSION FOR 2016-2017. PLEASE REGISTER FOR THE FOLLOWING SESSION IN ORDER TO RECEIVE UPDATES VIA EMAIL ON THESE CHANGES. ALSO NOTE THAT THIS SESSION MAY BE RESCHEDULED OR CANCELLED BASED ON FUTURE NOTICES FROM TEA ON THE NEW SYSTEM.
Local Education Agencies (LEAs) which intends to contract for placement of a student with a disability under IDEA in a residential facility in accordance with 19 TAC 89.61 must notify the Texas Education Agency (TEA) through the residential application process. The Application for Approval of Funding for Residential Placement is available through each Education Service Center (ESC). The application is to be completed by the LEA and submitted through the ESC to be forwarded to TEA for review regardless of the funding source the LEA intends to use. This session is designed to provide information, updates, and technical assistance to LEAs who will be completing the TEA Application for Approval of Residential Placement. Session and materials costs are partially funded through state or federal grants.
Session ID: 1171249
Dates: 9/20/2016
Time: 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM
Location: Region 4
Contact: Linda De Zell Hall, Ph.D., 713-744-6399
Noneducational Community-Based Support Services Funds Application Updates
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) under TEC 29.013 has established procedures and criteria for the allocation of funds to school districts for the provision of noneducational community-based support services (noned) to certain students with disabilities under IDEA and their families so that those students may receive an appropriate free public education in the least restrictive environment. The funds may be used only for eligible students with disabilities who would remain or would have to be placed in residential facilities primarily for educational reasons without the provision of noneducational community-based support services. This session is designed to provide information, updates, and technical assistance to Local Education Agencies (LEA) that choose to apply through their Education Service Center (ESC) to TEA for noned funds. Participants are encouraged to share information during the session regarding their LEA policies, procedures, and administrative processes related to providing noned funds. Session and materials costs are partially funded through state or federal grants.
Session ID:1171250
Dates: 9/20/2016
Time: 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM
Location: Region 4
Contact: Linda De Zell Hall, Ph.D., 713-744-6399
Paraprofessionals: Supporting Reading in the Classroom
Assist paraprofessionals (K-12) or Special Education Inclusion teachers to develop and possess knowledge and skills of reading instruction in order to support student learning in the classroom.
Session ID: 1233553
Contact hours: 3 hours
Online: Available 24/7 until Aug. 31, 2016
Participant has 30 days from time of registration to complete course
Contact: Tony Goedicke, 713.744.6579 or
Paraprofessionals: Supporting Math in the Classroom
Assist paraprofessionals (K-12) or Special Education Inclusion teachers to develop and possess knowledge and skills of math instruction in order to support student learning in the classroom.
Session ID: 1235080
Contact hours: 3 hours
Online: Available 24/7 until Aug. 31, 2016
Participant has 30 days from time of registration to complete course
Contact: Tony Goedicke, 713.744.6579 or
Paraprofessionals: Supporting Writing in the Classroom
Assist paraprofessionals (K-12) or Special Education Inclusion teachers to develop and possess knowledge and skills of writing instruction in order to support student learning in the classroom.
Session ID: 1249411
Contact hours: 3 hours
Online: Available 24/7 until Aug. 31, 2016
Participant has 30 days from time of registration to complete course
Contact: Tony Goedicke, 713.744.6579 or
Co-Teaching: A Framework of Best Practices
Gain an understanding of the law and learn the effective co-teach components and practices that can produce greater instruction intensity in your co-teach class than if only one teacher were present.
Session ID: 1179140
Contact hours: 3 hours
Online: Available 24/7 until Aug. 31, 2016
Participant has 30 days from time of registration to complete course
Contact: Tony Goedicke, 713.744.6579 or
Special Education Webinar – Diagnosis and Treatment of ADHD in a School Setting
Comprehensive behavioral assessment is necessary for accurate diagnosis of ADHD. In this seminar, Dr. Reynolds will describe the criteria for ADHD and how best to make an accurate determination as to whether a child has ADHD, whether it is interfering with educational attainment in ways that warrant special education placement, and treatment approaches to management of attention and activity level issues in the schools. Diagnostic information will rely heavily on the BASC-3 model for comprehensive behavioral assessments that allow one to target interventions properly.
Session ID: 1240439
Date: September 13, 2016
Time: 10:00a.m. – 12:00p.m.
Location: online
Fee $20
Contact: Kara Zwolinski at or 713-744-6562
Use of the Psychoeducational Profile, Third Edition (PEP-3) – Assessing Skills and Behaviors of Young Children with ASD and Communication Deficits
The Psychoeducational Profile: TEACCH Individualized Psychoeducational Assessment for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders Third Edition (PEP-3) was developed for evaluating the uneven learning strengths and weaknesses characterizing the autism spectrum and related developmental disabilities. This workshop covers the use, administration, scoring and interpretation of this instrument as well as demonstrating applications for educational planning and clinical decision making. Using a developmental approach, the PEP-3 allows testing of children in the autism spectrum who had once been considered untestable. It is embraced by educators who believed these children are testable and is considered to be extremely useful for planning IEPs.
Session ID: 1254839
Date: September 20, 2016
Time: 8:30a.m. – 11:30a.m.
Location: Crowne Plaza Northwest-Brookhollow
Fee $30
Contact: Kara Zwolinski at or 713-744-6562
An Introduction to the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R)
The Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) is an extended interview designed to elicit information needed to produce a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. This workshop will serve as an introduction to the measure including its development and psychometric properties. Through this workshop, the development and history of the ADI to its current edition, the ADI-R, as well as a basic understanding of the principles for administering and scoring the ADI-R will be presented.
Session ID: 1254841
Date: September 20, 2016
Time: 1:00p.m. – 4:00p.m.
Location: Crowne Plaza Northwest-Brookhollow
Fee $30
Contact: Kara Zwolinski at or 713-744-6562
Woodcock Johnson IV Update
Attend this session to review changes and revisions to the Fourth Edition of the Woodcock Johnson. The Fourth Edition will provide three independent and co-normed batteries: WJ IV Tests of Cognitive Abilities WJ IV Tests of Oral Language - NEW! WJ IV Tests of Achievement The three batteries can be used independently or in any combination. Based on the evolution of CHC theory, new tests and interpretive clusters place emphasis on the most important and diagnostically useful measures of academic achievement, oral language, and cognitive abilities. The WJ IV’s focus on evaluation of relative strengths and weaknesses will help assessment professionals identify and describe patterns of performance across achievement, language, and cognitive domains that are key to diagnosing learning problems and developing targeted interventions for individual needs.
Session ID: 1238872
Date: September 23, 2016
Time: 8:30a.m. – 3:30p.m.
Location: Region 4 ESC
Fee $35
Contact: Kara Zwolinski at or 713-744-6562
An Introduction to the WJ IV Early Cognitive and Academic Development (ECAD)
This presentation will highlight the WJ IV Early Cognitive and Academic Development (ECAD). Using a battery of ten tests, examiners can measure general intellectual ability, early academic skills, and oral expression in children ages 2:6 - 7:11, and intellectually disabled children age 9:11 and younger using content adapted from the trusted WJ IV tests as well as unique new material. The presenters will introduce the WJ IV ECAD and discuss using the battery as part of comprehensive evaluations for Intellectual Disability and Autism. Additionally, unique features around obtaining information related to cognition, early achievement, and expressive language will be highlighted. PROMO CODE: R4DirectorECAD for one (1) free registration per district.
Session ID: 1240322
Date: September 28, 2016
Time: 9:00a.m. – 12:00p.m.
Location: Region 4 ESC
Fee $30
Contact: Kara Zwolinski at or 713-744-6562