Texas Commission on Special Education Funding

House Bill 1525, 87th Texas Legislature, established the Texas Commission on Special Education Funding to develop and make recommendations of financing special education in public schools.

The commission shall develop recommendations to address issues related to special education funding.

The commission may establish one or more working groups composed of not more than three members of the commission to study, discuss, and address specific policy issues and recommendations to refer to the commission for consideration.

Not later than December 31, 2022, the commission shall prepare and deliver a report to the governor and the legislature that recommends statutory changes to improve funding for special education.

Commission Meetings

Friday December 16, 2022 2:00 pm - Meeting 8

Texas State Capitol Room E1.012

December 16, 2022 Meeting Agenda

Commission Final Report - Texas Commission on Special Education Funding 12.31.22

Monday November 14, 2022 1:30 pm - Meeting 7

Texas State Capitol Room E1.012

November 14, 2022 Meeting Agenda

Presentations

Justin Porter, Associate Commissioner and Chief Program Officer, Special Populations, ��, Draft Recommendations for Consideration
Steve Aleman, MPAff, J.D., Senior Policy Specialist, Disability Rights Texas (DRT), Education Savings Accounts (ESA)
Jolene Sanders-Foster, MS, Advocacy Director, Coalition of Texans with Disabilities (CTD), Coalition of Texans with Disabilities (CTD)
Ezzard Castillo, Administrator, River City Christian School, River City Christian School San Antonio TX
Benjamin Scafidi, Ph.D. Friedman Fellow (EdChoice), Professor of Economics and Director, Education Economics Center, Kennesaw State University, Special Education ESAs
Michael Barba, Policy Director, K-12 Education, Texas Public Policy Foundation, Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF)

Slides

Prof. Kevin G. Welner, Director, National Education Policy Center, Professor, School of Education , University of Colorado Boulder Voucher slide 1 and Voucher slide 2
Cara Candal, Policy Managing Director for ExcelinEd, ExcelinEd slide

Friday September 9, 2022 10:00 am - Meeting 6

Texas State Capitol Room E1.028

September 9, 2022 Meeting Agenda

Presentations

Laura Cazabon-Braly, Associate Commissioner for State Supported Living Centers, Texas Health and Human Services Commission - SSLC Presentation to TCSEF
Rebecca Japko, President, Parents and Allies for Remarkable Texans (PART) - PART presentation for SPED Funding
Erin Tyler, Director of School Partnerships, Special Education Services Inc (SESI) - TX Commission on SPED Funding Hearing SESI
Amanda Coffey, PhD, BCBA-D, LBA, Executive Director/CEO, Behavior Network - Behavior Network SPED Funding Hearing

Handout

Brenham State Supported Living Center (BSSLC) - BSSLC Flyer

Wednesday August 10, 2022 10:00 am - Meeting 5

Texas State Capitol Room E1.012

August 10, 2022 Meeting Agenda

Presentations

Lindsay Rodgers, Associate Commissioner for Health and Developmental Services, Texas Health and Human Services Commission - ECI Presentation for SPED Funding Commission
Stephanie Wright, Special Education Department Chair and Life Skills Teacher, Eanes ISD - Eanes ISD SPED Funding Recommendations
Steven Aleman, Senior Policy Analyst, Disability Rights Texas, and Kristin McGuire, Director of Governmental Relations, Texas Council of Administrators of Special Education - DRTX and TCASE SPED Funding Commission Recommendations
Texas Special Education Funding Commission - Working Group Draft Proposal

Monday June 27, 2022 9:00 am - Meeting 4

Texas State Capitol Room E1.014

June 27, 2022 Meeting Agenda

Presentations

Claire Bugen, Superintendent, and Justin Wedel, CFO, Texas School for the Deaf - TSD Special Education Funding
Dr. Marina McCormick, Region 4 RDSPD Coordinator, ESC Region 4 Regional Day School Program for the Deaf - Region 4 RDSPD Funding
Ms. Debbie Martin, Plano RDSPD Coordinator, Plano ISD Regional Day School Program for the Deaf - Plano ISD RDSPD Funding
Marti Boone, Executive Director, Be An Angel Fund, Inc. and Dan Pastorini, President and CEO – Dan Pastorini Quality Foods, Chairman – Be An Angel Fund, Inc. - Be An Angel Funding

Handouts

Be An Angel Handout - BAA Special Education
Texas Association of Community Schools - TACS Special Education
Texas Association of Rural Schools, Texas Association of Mid-Size Schools - TARS & TAMS Special Education
Texas Association of School Boards - TASB Special Education

Monday May 23, 2022 10:00 am - Meeting 3

Texas State Capitol Room E1.010

Secretary of State

May 23, 2022 Meeting Agenda

Presentations

�� - Special Education Legislation
Florida Department of Education - Florida’s E.S.E Funding Model: Matrix of Service
Paula Nelson, Ed.S & Ron Matus, Step Up For Students - Educational Savings Accounts for Students with Unique Abilities
Sara Doutre, Project Director, WestEd & Tye Ripma, Senior Associate, WestEd - State Models For Funding Special Education

Monday April 25, 2022 10:00 am - Meeting 2

Texas State Capitol Room E1.010

Secretary of State

April 25, 2022 Meeting Agenda

Presentations - Texas CFOs

Pam Sancez, Assistant Superintendent of Business Services, Lake Travis ISD - Special Services Lake Travis ISD
Christopher J. Smith, Chief Financial Officer, Katy ISD - Commission on Special Ed Funding Katy ISD
Johnny W. Hill, CPA, RTSBA, Chief Financial Officer, Plano ISD - Special Education Funding Analysis Plano ISD
Flor Ayala, CPA, Assistant Superintendent for Finance, Business Services, and Accountability, Laredo ISD - Special Education Program Revenue Costs Laredo ISD
Jeffri Orosco, RTSBA, Chief Financial Officer, Elgin ISD - Special Education Funding Elgin ISD

Presentations - Texas District SPED Directors

Thelissa Edwards Ed.D., LSSP, Executive Director of Special Education, Spring ISD - Special Education Funding Spring ISD
Amanda Sanchez-Muñoz, Special Education Director, San Elizario ISD - Special Education Funding San Elizario ISD

Presentations

Kristin McGuire, Director of Governmental Relations Texas Council - 2020 Special Education Allotment Advisory Committee Report
Ed O’Neill, Executive Director, Special Populations General Supervision and Monitoring, �� - Non-Public Residential Funds and High-Cost Funds

Thursday March 17, 2022 10:00 am - Meeting 1

Texas State Capitol Room E2.010

March 17, 2022 Meeting Agenda
Mike Morath, �� Commissioner, and Leo Lopez, Associate Commissioner for School Finance, and James Connolly, Senior Director of Federal Fiscal Compliance - Special Education Trends

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