1. Home
  2. Academics
  3. Special Populations
  4. Special Education

SSES Resources for Districts

Family receiving a document from a school

 

The SSES application is closed for the 2023-2024 school year. The application will re-open next school year on February 3, 2025.

 

Click on the links below to go to that section.

Resources for Families

LEA Requirements under SB 1716

Important items to share with families under SB 1716

Resources for districts and charters to share with families:

SSES Important Dates:

  • The SSES Application closed for the 2023-2024 school year on March 15, 2024.
  • The SSES+ Medically Fragile Program is permanently ending on December 6, 2024 - families have until then to spend their SSES+ Medically Fragile funds.
  • The SSES Application will re-open for the 2024-2025 school year on February 3, 2025.

 

Customizable documents for families:

  • SSES Program: Customizable letter or email (PDF):
    UPDATED January 2024:  ENGLISH  |  SPANISH

 

Links for families:

 

SSES Technical Assistance:

 

One-Page resources for families:

 

Videos for families:

  • Family Testimonials:

 

SSES+ Medically Fragile Resources:

The SSES+ Medically Fragile Program is permanently ending on December 6, 2024, and we are no longer accepting applications.

 

  • One-Pager: What is the difference in the original SSES program and the SSES+ Medically Fragile program?
    ENGLISH   |   SPANISH
  • One-Pager: SSES+ Medically Fragile Overview:
    ENGLISH   |   SPANISH

 

Additional Resources:

LEA requirements under SB 1716 rule:

Under SB 1716, district and charter schools have requirements for the SSES program.

 

Link to full rule text – Updated on April 14, 2023

19 TAC §102.1601. Supplemental Special Education Services and Instructional Materials Program for Certain Public School Students Receiving Special Education Services.

In April 2023, section 19 TAC §102.1601 (i) justification of the change: Determining whether a student has been awarded an SSES account would assist an ARD committee in knowing in how much detail to provide regarding the SSES program. However, the agency has modified subsection (i) at adoption to specify that the ARD committee responsibilities are to provide information about the types of goods and services that are available and instructions and resources on accessing the online accounts. The requirement that school districts and charter schools notify families of their eligibility remains.

19 TAC §102.1601(i). Requirements to provide information.

School districts and open-enrollment charter schools shall notify families of their eligibility for the SSES program…

NOTE: Local Education Agencies (LEAs) are only required to provide this notification one time to individual families. 

OPTIONAL RESOURCES:

…and shall provide the following at the student's admission, review, and dismissal (ARD) committee meeting: 

(1) instructions and resources on accessing the online accounts; and

NOTE: ARD committees are only required to provide this information one time to individual families. 

OPTIONAL RESOURCES:

(2) information about the types of goods and services that are available through the SSES grant.”

NOTE: ARD committees are only required to provide this information one time to individual families. 

OPTIONAL RESOURCES:

OVERALL NOTE: TEA recommends that if the ARD committee determines the family has already received an SSES account, it could assist an ARD committee in knowing in how much detail to provide regarding the SSES program.

OPTIONAL RESOURCE: TEA has provided a flowchart to guide ARD committees in determining if a family has previously received an SSES account – LINK TO ARD FLOWCHART.

 

Important items to share with families under SB 1716 rule:

The following pieces of rule may be helpful for the LEA to understand to assist families.

19 TAC §102.1601.

(e)Application process for grant on behalf of a student.

(2) Parents and guardians who would like to apply on behalf of their eligible students must complete the online application.

NOTE: Families must apply online, there are no paper versions of the application. Families should also use an email they regularly check, as this will the email in which they will receive communication, and if eligible, will get an account.

(5) If necessary, eligible students will be placed on a waitlist and parents and guardians will be notified. Should additional funds become available, priority will be given in the order established by the waitlist and in accordance with subsection (c) of this section.

NOTE: It is possible that an eligible family apply but still not receive an account.

(f) Approval of application; assignment of account.

(4)Within 30 calendar days from receiving an award notification email, parents and guardians must:

(A)access or log in to their account or the account may be subject to reclamation; and

(B)agree to and sign the SSES parental acknowledgement affidavit.

NOTE: Families MUST complete these two things within the first 30-days. ClassWallet will send out several reminders, but this is something that we recommend LEAs informing the parents of.

(g) Use of funds. Use of SSES program funds provided to parents and guardians are limited as follows.

(1) Only supplemental special education instructional materials and supplemental special education services available through the marketplace of approved providers and vendors may be purchased with SSES program funds.

NOTE: Families may only purchase items that are educational. There is a team of people that approve or deny every order that is purchased. It is recommended that families provide justification on orders. 

(6) Parents may not use SSES program funds for reimbursement of goods or services obtained outside of the marketplace. SSES program funds shall not be paid directly to parents or guardians of eligible students.

NOTE: Families cannot be reimbursed for goods or services. Families may only purchase goods and submit invoices for services received online through the ClassWallet marketplace.

 

  Print
sses-logo-small.png

 Quick SSES Links

SSES Home Page

Eligibility Criteria

Application Process

Information for Service Providers

Information for Vendors

Outreach Materials

FAQs

Contact Information

If you have additional questions or need help, email us at SSEShelp@region10.org or call SPEDTex at 1-855-773-3839.