Parent-Directed Special Education Services (PDSES) - formerly Supplemental Special Education Services (SSES) School System Requirements and Program Updates

The purpose of this communication is to announce that the Supplemental Special Education Services (SSES) program is now known as the Parent-Directed Special Education Services (PDSES) program. This change better reflects the importance of parents as decision-makers in the educational process. PDSES remains a one-time $1,500 online grant for parents of eligible students served by special education and who are enrolled in a Texas public school. Parents of eligible students can use PDSES funds to shop on the online marketplace to obtain educational materials and resources such as textbooks, curricula, technology devices, and/or services such as tutoring or other specific services.

Required Notification

In accordance with Texas Administrative Code, 19 TAC §102.1601(j) school districts and open-enrollment charter schools shall notify families of the program and, unless the school district or charter school has verified that a parent has already received or applied for a program grant, shall provide the following at the student's admission, review, and dismissal (ARD) committee meeting: 

1. instructions and resources on accessing the online accounts, including the application window established by TEA; and 
2. information about the types of goods and services that are available through the program grant.

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) will send lists to all school systems of their PDSES-eligible students to assist with verifying if a parent has already received or applied for a program grant. These lists will be sent to the school systems Director of Special Education listed within the AskTED directory. Each school system should ensure staff information listed in the AskTED directory is up to date and correct in order to receive these lists. School systems that need assistance with AskTED should reach out to their ESC.

TEA encourages school systems to inform parents and stakeholders of this name change and to sign up on the PDSES website to receive program updates, including reminders about the opening of the application window. Additionally, TEA will update all resources to assist school systems with communicating the PDSES program to parents in October 2024. These resources, as well as current resources, can be found on the PDSES Outreach Materials webpage.

Note: The PDSES program remains a one-time only grant. If a student’s family has already received a PDSES/SSES grant, school systems should not encourage the student’s family to apply again.

PDSES Dates:

• Oct. 1, 2024 –  School system outreach resources available on the PDSES Outreach Materials webpage. 
• Oct. 18, 2024 – School system’s PDSES-eligible student lists are sent to the director of special education at each school system. 
• Feb. 3, 2025, at 8 a.m. CST – PDSES application window opens. 
• Mar. 31, 2025, at 5 p.m. CST – PDSES application window closes.  

PDSES Program Support:

• For resources and guidance about the PDSES program, please view the PDSES Website. 
• For questions about the PDSES program, please view the PDSES FAQs.  
• For additional questions or help, please email PDSEShelp@region10.org or call SPEDTex at 855-773-3839.