More Information Released on Vouchers
On Jan. 29, TEA released an updated TAA letter that expands the definition of a “current” IEP for private school students to include the 2023-2024, 2024-2025, and 2025-2026 school years. Therefore, if a private school child had an instructional arrangement (IA) code in a public school for any of those three years, and was not dismissed from special education, a school district would not have to upload an IEP. See TEA’s guidance document for how to upload IEPs. By March 17, school districts are expected to upload IEPs for children without an IA code from the past three years and whose parent communicates their intent to apply for the TEFA.
The growing list of schools participating in the Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) program suggests enrollment projections in public schools will be hard to nail down. As of Jan. 26, 1385 schools were participating in the program. Nearly 83% of the participating schools include a pre-K classroom, many of which are also year-round daycare centers that may present an appealing option to parents.
Students do not have to be accepted to a private school to apply for TEFA, which could create flux down the road as parents continue to weigh their options even after being awarded an account. The application period for the TEFA program is Feb. 4 to March 17.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
IDEA Funding Avoids Major Cuts in Budget Talks
The biggest uncertainty is timing, not totals. With deadline pressure rising, congressional leaders are weighing whether to move the package as a whole or split off the most contentious pieces to secure votes and avoid a shutdown. Those talks are largely centered on whether the Congress is willing to budget for a large increase in funding for Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as part of the deal.
If the talks slip, Congress could pass another short extension that keeps agencies open but prolongs uncertainty for schools about final funding levels and federal program operations as the year moves forward.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Bills Would Create Dyslexia Category in IDEA
Dyslexia is already explicitly named in current IDEA regulations as a condition within the broader “specific learning disability” category, which is one of the law’s existing disability classifications. The bills would instead establish a stand-alone definition of dyslexia in IDEA and list it separately in the definition of a “child with a disability.”
Backers argue a distinct category would push schools toward earlier, clearer identification. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) the chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, said in an October announcement of the bill’s reintroduction that students are often not tested and that the measure would help ensure they get needed resources.
But a coalition of disability rights and education groups has warned Congress the approach could slow support for struggling readers by encouraging a “wait to fail” identification model and by splintering learning disability subtypes in ways that complicate service delivery.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Abbott Changes H-1B Visa Use
On Tuesday, Abbott ordered state agencies and Texas public universities to freeze new H-1B visa petitions unless they get written permission from the Texas Workforce Commission, with the pause running through May 31, 2027. The directive does not apply to K-12 districts, but it raises pressure on school systems that sponsor visa holders and could shape future state action after the administration reviews the data, according to reporting by the Texas Tribune and other outlets. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________
OSERS Hosts Listening Session
Commenters resoundingly rejected the transfer of special education and rehabilitation programs to the Department of Health and Human Services. They expressed concerns that special education programs would deteriorate without oversight, technical assistance, and support from the Department of Education. Commenters also consistently stated that federal laws and protections ensure that states have strong programs, often sharing personal stories of how the laws work when implemented well and can lead to fulfilled lives for children with disabilities.