TEA Issues Guidance on Parental Rights Law
- The new statute requires parental notification for health-related services, though it distinguishes between services that require active consent, such as well-being questionnaires, and those that do not, such as basic first aid. The agency noted first aid may be administered once parents are initially notified unless they have opted out.
- General caretaking by staff, such as providing a change of clothes or cleaning up minor accidents, is not considered a health-related service under SB 12 and does not require parental consent.
- The agency emphasized that districts cannot use blanket “all opt-out” or “all opt-in” approaches for services but must instead follow the law’s notification and consent requirements.
The FAQ also addresses therapy dogs, noting that in many cases their use would be considered a health-related service requiring parental consent if the activity falls under statutory definitions.
TEA said it will go through the state rulemaking process to adopt detailed procedures for notifying parents about changes in student health or well-being services. A draft of the proposed rules was updated Sept. 8 and is subject to change before final adoption.
A guidance document for SB 12 and model language to comply with the law is also available.
The release follows questions from districts on how to apply the new law, which legislators said was designed to reinforce parental involvement in decisions about student health and instructional activities.
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Trump Admin Cancels Dozens of Part D Grants
What Continues
Despite the cancellations, the department told Congress it intends to continue 464 other IDEA Part D grants for the upcoming year, though many recipients are being asked to certify that their projects align with new federal priorities before funds flow. Parent Training and Information Centers (PTIs) and several national/regional TA centers are among the programs expected to receive continuation awards. These are separate from IDEA’s formula grants (Parts B and C) to states, which are not affected by these competitive-grant decisions.
Why Projects Were Canceled
Cancellation notices cite application language referencing diversity, equity and inclusion or related concepts as inconsistent with current federal priorities. The department says those funds will be redirected to teacher-training efforts; grantees have been offered a short window to appeal.
What Texas Educators Should Watch
- No named Texas cuts are listed at this time, but Texas LEAs and universities should confirm the status of any federally funded personnel-prep or TA subawards linked to out-of-state prime grantees on the non-continuation list.
- PTIs and statewide parent supports serving Texas are expected to continue absent a Texas listing in the cancellation spreadsheet, but centers may see shifts in national TA supports and conditions attached to continuations.
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House Panel Approves 26% Cut to Title 1 Funds
In FY 2024, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) received about $1.87 billion in Title I Part A funding as part of its total federal allocations. A 26% cut in Title I funding would translate to approximately $486 million less for Texas schools in FY 2026—significant for districts serving students from low-income backgrounds.
TEA receives roughly $1.2 billion annually in IDEA funding for special education (Ages 3-21 grants, preschool grants, early intervention). Those funds have not been reduced or withheld as of the latest reports but future appropriations decisions could change that.
The House proposal must still go through further committee action, House and Senate floor votes, and reconciliation before becoming law.
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TCASE Submits Comments on Voucher Rules
TCASE recommends eliminating the ability for a doctor diagnosis because it would create confusion for parents when they still have to go through a public school special education evaluation and determination of eligibility to receive the higher ESA award amount up to $30,000.
If you would like to submit public comments, they may be submitted to the Comptroller’s office and must be received or postmarked by September 21. It is expected that the Comptroller will hold a public hearing on the rules as a result of a request made by TCASE and other disability groups.
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TCASE Requesting Several Interim Charges
At the top of the list was a request that legislators seek solutions to ensure that parents have greater access to special education advocates with a rich expertise in special education and strong professional conduct standards.
TCASE also requested that legislators look into ways to streamline the requirements placed on public schools while preserving parent rights to information and transparency.
Other requests by TCASE include examining the impacts of recently passed legislation, the cost of contracted services, and issues related to student absences. These requests were developed by the TCASE Legislative Task Force.