Weekly Update 1.8.2015
TEA Information
Adopted Amendments to 19 TAC
After reviewing the public comments, TEA has amended several sections of 19 TAC 89: Adaptations for Special Populations (Both Commissioner’s Rules and SBOE Rules) Attached are the amended versions with additions and strikeouts. To access the new rules without the strikeouts go to the following link:
The amended rules went into effect on January 1, 2015. We will discuss the significant changes at the February 5, 2015 Special Education Directors Meeting.
State Performance Plan / Annual Performance Report Data Collection Schedule of 2014-2015
All SPP 7, 11, 12, 13 and 14 data must be entered and certified earlier this year than in previous years. All applications will close on Wednesday, August 12, 2015.
Contact Information
SPP 7 and 12: Contact Sonja Hollan, or Kristina Parr,
SPP 11 and 12: Contact Kara Zwolinski,
SPP 13 and 14: Contact Karen Pepkin,
Travel and Mileage Reimbursement Rates Applicable to Grants
The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts has published the travel and mileage reimbursement rates to be effective January 1, 2015, through August 31, 2015, as listed below:
- The automobile mileage reimbursement rate is 57.5 cents per mile.
- The lodging reimbursement rate is up to $85 a night for in-state travel to areas not listed on thefederal per diem rate map.
- The lodging reimbursement rate is up to $83 a night for out-of-state travel to areas not listed on thefederal per diem rate map.
- The meal reimbursement rate for overnight travel is up to $46 per day.
- The meal reimbursement rate for non-overnight travel is up to $36.
The mileage, lodging, and meal reimbursement rates published by the comptroller apply to all grants funded by the Texas Education Agency for individuals on travel status.
For more detailed information regarding allowable travel expenses, consult theTexas State Comptroller’s website. Follow these steps to locate information on the comptroller’s site regarding per diem rates for lodging and meals for specific cities or counties:
- Select the “Finances & Economy” tab at the top of the home page.
- Scroll down to the “Fiscal Management” section, and select “State of Texas Travel Information.”
- In the “Resources” section, select the “Textravel” logo.
- Select either the Meals and Lodging or the Transportation tab.
- In the “Rates” section in the right column, select “Current Rates.”
See theattached guidelinesfor more travel information. If you have any further questions, please submit a request to theTEA Help Desk.
For Your Information
A Guide to Understanding Mental Health Systems and Services in Texas
The Hogg Foundation is proud to announce that the second edition of A Guide to Understanding Mental Health Systems and Services in Texas is now available for download! Hot off the presses in time for the 84th legislative session, the guide is a valuable reference tool for people who wish to better understand the programs that exist to serve those with mental health or substance use conditions. The entire guide in PDF and ePub format for Kindle and iPad can be downloaded at the following link
3 Steps for Building a Professional Learning Network
So what is a Professional Learning Network (PLN)? According to an Education Week article (12/31/2014), it’s a is a vibrant, ever-changing group of connections to which educators go to both share and learn. These groups reflect our values, passions, and areas of expertise. So it’s just about technology? You just need to get connected, right?Not exactly, social media can be one of you PLN places, but don’t limit yourself. PLNs are about relationships that can include in person or via distance. Picture three layers like the ever-widening rings formed when a rock is dropped into still water. The smallest circle represents colleagues/buddies and mentors, the middle ring holds common interest groups, and the outer ring compromises professionals and rockstars/experts. So, how do you set up a PLN?
- Find the professionals. This might be through organizations like GCASE or TCASE. It might be projects or trainings at Region 4. Connect with organizations and/or professionals whose mission statements and resources align to your personal belief. For example, Region 4’s vision is to partner to achieve educational excellence for all children through innovative services. Follow Region 4 on twitter or like us on Facebook or check out Ginger’s blog.
- Find the special interest groups in person or online.
- Find buddies and mentors. These are the people that “get” you! They expand your natural tunnel vision, transofr your perspective, and encourage you when rock bottom seems near. Communicate with them in person, via email, instant message, twitter, or maybe even go out for a beverage once a month!!! Connection and interaction is key, the platform is merely the medium of convenience.
Remember communities are the key to survival. Make sure your professional life is vibrant. Be sure you have a PLN that helps you step outside the door and seek people who can breathe new life in your professional growth.
Region 4 Upcoming Professional Development
Building An Inclusive School Series
Developing and maintaining an “Inclusive School.” Bring a campus core team and learn the key components in developing and/or maintaining an inclusive school. Day One’s focus is on Inclusion Philosophy, Inclusion Committee, LRE, Case Management, and the IEP Decision-Making Process. Day Two will focus on scheduling and effective instructional frameworks. The final day will address inclusion models, common planning, classroom management/routines, and behavior. Session and materials costs are partially funded through state or federal grants.
Session ID: 1058463
Date: 1/20/15, 2/17/15, 4/7/15
Time: 8:30a.m. – 3:30p.m
Location: MCC 207, MCC 205, MCC 203
Fee: $135
Contact Information: Tony Goedicke at or 713.744.6579
Co-Teaching Series: Basic, Advanced and Ultimate Co-Teaching Practices
Developing highly effective co-teach teams. Come as a co-teach team to increase instructional intensity more than a one teacher classroom. Day one (Co-Teaching) explores implementing high quality instructional frameworks with the six (6) co-teaching approaching. Day two (Advanced Co-Teaching) explores the variations of the co-teaching approaches, the stages of effective co-teacher development, and common planning. Day three (Ultimate Co-Teaching) will dive deeper into analyzing one another beliefs and philosophies of education. Evaluate your partnerships to development a highly effective team. Session and materials costs are partially funded through state or federal grants.
Session ID: 1058465
Date: 1/21/15, 2/18/15, 4/8/15
Time: 8:30a.m. – 3:30p.m
Location: MCC 207, MCC 101, MCC 205
Fee: $135
Contact Information: Tony Goedicke at or 713.744.6579
Inclusion: Building a Solid Foundation
Gain an understanding of the critical components needed to build an effective inclusive campus. This session will focus on best practices for the components of inclusion committee, case management procedures and processes, understanding Least Restrictive Environment (LRE), Scheduling, etc. Participants will also explore change theories that will assist staff in gaining a better understanding of the philosophy of inclusion and participants current beliefs as well as how to address changing school climate in order to obtain an effective Inclusive campus. Session and materials costs are partially funded through state or federal grants.
Session ID: 1058466
Date: 1/27/15
Time: 8:30a.m. – 3:30p.m
Location: MCC 205
Fee: $45
Contact Information: Tony Goedicke at or 713.744.6579
Co-Teaching for Administrators
Assist your teachers in obtaining increased instructional intensity in the co-teach classroom by gaining knowledge of highly effective co-teach components. Perform observations and discuss with colleagues the positives and challenges within a co-teaching classroom. Leave with common planning tools for teachers as well as a classroom walk-through tool to enhance co-teach practices.
Session ID: 1058468
Date: 1/28/15
Time: 8:30a.m. – 3:30p.m
Location: MCC 101
Fee: $45
Contact Information: Tony Goedicke at or 713.744.6579
PODD Communication- Multi-modal Communication Strategies for Children who have Complex Communication Needs
This course will demonstrate the use of a Pragmatic Organization Dynamic Display (PODD) approach developed by Gayle Porter (Melbourne, Australia). Generic templates for multi-page "light tech" communication books have been carefully designed to support genuine communication for a variety of functions throughout the day. These templates may be customized for a range of access methods and other individual needs. Session and materials costs are partially funded through state or federal grants.
Session ID: 1081926
Time: 8:30AM -4:30PM
Date: May 7-8, 2015
Registration Fee: $100.00
Location: Region 4 ESC
Contact Information: Angela Standridge at or 713-744-6831
Structured Teaching: It’s More Than Just Work Systems
Join this 4-day series to gain in-depth information on creating a structured classroom to support the learning and behavior of students with autism and other disabilities. During this professional development series, participants will learn 1) the principles and research base for structured teaching; 2) how to apply structured teaching principles to support students of varying ages and ability levels; 3) how to implement structured teaching in a variety of settings including special education classrooms, general education classrooms, and the community; 4) how to teach students to use structured teaching components; and 5) how to “re-structure” systems when students are not responding positively. Participants will also create materials, use these materials to practice implementing structured teaching in their classrooms through “homework” assignments, and receive feedback.
Session ID: 1066332
Dates: January 27, 2015; March 31, 2015; April 28, 2015; May 12, 2015
Time: 9:00 – 4:00
Fee: $180
Contact information: Cathy Williams , 713 744 6801
Taking It to the Next Level: How to Effectively Implement Strategies that Support Students with High Functioning Autism in the Classroom
Have you ever attended professional development and learned of a great new strategy but found that implementing this strategy in the “real world” of the classroom was not all that easy? Join this professional development session to learn how to effectively implement strategies that support students with high functioning autism in the classroom. During this session, participants will not only review evidence-based strategies that support students with HFA, but also learn 1) how to teach students to use strategies such as social stories, power cards, comic strip conversations, and graphic organizers; 2) how to include the instruction of these strategies in a busy school day; and 3) how to adjust and adapt the strategies when students do not readily respond but rather demonstrate more challenging behaviors.
Session ID: 1071974
Date: February 3, 2015
Time: 9:00 – 4:00
Fee: $45
Contact information: Cathy Williams at , 713 744 6801
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
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.
Session ID: 1077423
Dates: March 23 & 24, 2015
Time: 9:00 – 4:00
Fee: $90
Contact information: Cathy Williams , 713 744 6801