General Information
Eligibility
The TEA's Parent's Guide to the Admission, Review, and Dismissal Process states: There is a two-part test for determining whether your child is eligible for special education and related services: (1) your child must have a disability; and (2) as a result of the disability, your child must need special education and related services to benefit from education. To meet the first part of the two-part test for eligibility, a child between the ages of 3 through 21, except as noted, must meet the criteria for one or more of the disability categories listed below:
- autism;
- deaf and hard of hearing (from birth);
- deaf-blindness (from birth);
- emotional disturbance;
- intellectual disability;
- multiple disabilities;
- noncategorical early childhood (ages three through five);
- orthopedic impairment;
- other health impairment;
- specific learning disability;
- speech or language impairment;
- traumatic brain injury; or
- visual impairment (including blindness from birth).
The ARD committee must make the eligibility determination within 30 calendar days from the date of completion of the initial evaluation report.
Acronym List
- ARD -Admission, Review & Dismissal
- APE - Adapted Physical Education
- ASD - Autism Spectrum Disorder
- AT - Assitive Technology
- BIP - Behavior Intervention Plan
- ECI - Early Childhood Intervention
- ECSE - Early Childhood Special Education (formerly known as PPCD Preschool Program for Children with Disabilities)
- ED - Emotional Disturbance
- ESY - Extended School Year
- FAPE - Free & Appropriate Public Education
- FBA - Functional Behavior Assessment
- FERPA - Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act
- FIE - Full Individual Evaluation
- GT - Gifted and Talented
- ID - Intellectual Disability
- IDEA - Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
- IEP - Individualized Education Program
- IHPT - In-Home/Parent Training
- ITP - Individual Transition Plan
- LD - Learning Disability
- LRE - Least Restrictive Environment
- LSSP - Licensed Specialist in School Psychology
- OHI - Other Health Impairment
- OT - Occupational Therapy
- PLAAFP - Present Levels of Academic Achievement & Functional Performance
- PT - Physical Therapy
- SI - Speech Impairment
- SLP - Speech Language Pathologist
- TEA - Texas Education Agency
- TEKS - Texas Essential Knowledge & Skills
Procedural Safeguards
Parent's Guide to the ARD Process
Texas Transition and Employment Guide