Non-Educational Community-Based Support Services (NECBS)

Key Updates:

Program Pause – The current NECBS program, which allows school systems to apply for reimbursement on behalf of families for eligible services, ended on August 31, 2025. TEA must adopt rules to administer this revised program, so the grants will not be available until those rules are effective. Until new Commissioner rules are adopted and the updated program infrastructure is in place, families will not be able to access NECBS services or funding.

Rulemaking Timeline – Proposed Commissioner’s rules are under development and are expected to be adopted through the rulemaking process in spring 2026.

Shift in Application Responsibility – Once the revised program is operational, parents—not school systems—will apply directly for NECBS grants. School systems will no longer access NECBS funds to purchase services on behalf of families.

Eligibility - The grants will be accessible to students who are placed by their ARD committee in an approved residential program or in a day placement program and determined at-risk of being placed in a residential program.

Accounts – Once the program is operational and an application has been received and determined to be eligible, an account will be established on request of an eligible parent to assist in accessing approved services.

New School System Responsibilities – Although school systems will no longer manage applications or reimbursements, they are required to:

• Notify eligible families about the availability of the grant.
• Designate a campus or district staff member to assist families in accessing the grant.

Next Steps for School Systems:

School systems should:

1. Inform families who previously benefited from NECBS that services will be temporarily unavailable.
2. Notify families that changes in legislation may affect their future eligibility.
3. Meet the staff designation requirement outlined in the new statute.

Additional Guidance

Further updates will be provided as the rulemaking process progresses. Guidance documents will be available on both this TEA NECBS webpage and the Education Service Center (ESC) 10 NECBS webpage. For questions, contact necbgrant@region10.org.

Additional resources for families and schools can be found on the:

Education Service Center (ESC) 10 website