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TEA Parent Survey: Special Education
11/03/2011
TEA Parent Survey : IEP Form
To read Senate Bill 1788, click on the following link.
http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/82R/billtext/html/SB01788F.htm
The Draft Model Form link is included in the link for the survey at (Public Comment Period – October 17, 2011 – November 7, 2011): http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/IEPmodelForm
You will find that each survey question is associated with the same sections (A – W) that are found in this document. Please review the appropriate section on this form and provide a response to the each of the three questions found in the survey regarding:
1. Understandability 2. Usability 3. Completeness
Passed by the 82nd Texas Legislature during its 2011 Regular Session, Senate Bill 1788 requires the Texas Education Agency (TEA or Agency) to develop a model form for developing an individualized education program (IEP) for a student with a disability by December 1, 2011. The intent of the bill was to have available to school districts a standardized form that is concise and understandable to parents and educators. The bill sets out requirements for the information contained in the form, requires TEA to post the form on its Internet website, and authorizes a school district to use the form to comply with the requirements for an IEP under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Under the bill, this optional model form may include only the information included in the federal model form and the information required by state laws and rules that are not required under federal law.
In July 2011, an internal TEA committee that included staff from TEA’s Office of Legal Services, the Division of Program Monitoring and Interventions, and the Division of Federal and State Education Policy, was established to develop the model form. The committee reviewed the federal model form, the IDEA, the Texas Education Code, and the Texas Administrative Code to determine what requirements could be included in the model form. In addition, the committee reviewed several model IEP forms developed by other state educational agencies.
On September 20, 2011, the committee presented a draft of the model form to a small group of individuals who were instrumental in the passage of the bill. The committee collected feedback on the draft model form from the meeting participants, and some of this feedback was incorporated into the current draft of the model form. The draft model form sets out the IEP content that is required for all students with disabilities and also includes several supplemental sections that must be completed if applicable to the specific student. TEA is now soliciting public comment from interested stakeholders throughout the state on the draft model form. The form will be posted on TEA’s website from October 17 through November 7, 2011, along with a link to Survey Monkey for comments. The link will be distributed through TEA’s Special Education Updates listserv and through the 20 regional education service centers. TEA invites public comment on whether the draft model form includes the content required by the new statute and is understandable, usable, and complete.
