Special Education Day and Residential Programs

Contact Information

 ESC Special Education Contacts

TEA Residential and Day Programs and High Cost Funds Team

SpedDayAndResidential@tea.texas.gov

HCF@tea.texas.gov

Day Placement Program Cooperative Funding Allotment

DayProgramFunding@tea.texas.gov

TEA Grants Administration Division 

grants@tea.texas.gov  

Announcements and Updates (3)

Viewing Day and Residential Program Announcements

The Day and Residential Programs team uses this section of the website to update stakeholders on important program information. Click the orange "View More" button below to view all recent announcements.

9/23/26: Day and Residential Programs Workshop

UPDATED REGISTRATION LINK: The Day and Residential Programs Workshop will take place virtually by Zoom on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. LEA, ESC, and day/residential program respresentatives may register here. Please review the workshop agenda for session times and topics. 

(If you registered prior to 9.22.2026, please re-register at the new link above. We have moved this workshop to a webinar format to accommodate the large number of registered attendees.)

Reminder: Day and Residential Mandatory Reporting & APEX Submissions

As we move further into the school year, we want to remind all Local Educational Agencies of the state mandatory reporting requirements for day and residential educational placements. Please ensure timely submissions through the TEAL application APEX, which is now open for both day and residential reporting. Reporting for initial and continuing placements for the 26-27 school year are due by 10/5/2026. 

About Special Education Day and Residential Programs

A local education agency (LEA) may contract for a day or residential placement when a student’s admission, review, and dismissal (ARD) committee determines that placement is necessary for the student to receive a free appropriate public education (FAPE).

Special Education Day and Residential Program Provider Interest Form

TEA now allows Special Education Day and Residential providers to apply to be an approved provider without waiting for a district or charter contract. 

Interested programs are invited to complete this brief interest form to provide information about their services, capacity, and qualifications, and to request guidance regarding the approval process.

Day Placement Program Cooperative Funding Allotment

Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, House Bill 2 (HB 2), passed by the 89th Texas Legislature, authorized TEA to award funds to qualifying day placement programs. The 2026 application closed on 6/26/2026.

Program Guidance Documents 

Day Placement Program Cooperative Funding Allotment Application Instructions (PDF)

Day Placement Program Cooperative Funding Allotment Application Rubric

Minimum Standards and Conditions for TEA Consideration to Operate as a Day or Residential Placement Program

Day Placement Program Cooperative Funding Allotment Guidelines

Day Placement Program Cooperative Funding Allotment - May 2026 TEA Special Education Webinar 

Program Terminology/Definitions - coming soon 

Program Guidance

Day/Residential Program Guidance

Annual Updates

9.15.2026 Special Education Day and Residential Placement Programs Updates Including Noneducational Community-Based Supports Updates

APEX Application

APEX User Manual  
APEX Quick Start
APEX How-To
APEX Application Checklist
Sample Cost Analysis
TEAL Access

Day and Residential Funding

Notification Requirements

Funding Explanations

Day
Residential

Residential Reimbursement

Reimbursement Guidelines
Viewing Reimbursement

Day and Residential Programs

Approved Day/Residential Program List
HHSC Residential Search
Age/Disability Standards
Preliminary Approval Guide

Day and Residential Monitoring

LEA Assurance Checklist
Student Folder Review
Teacher Cert Verification

Reintegration Planning

Recommended Plan

Reintegration Planning Guidance

Video with Captions | PDF Version
Reintegration Guidance

Other Helpful Links

High Cost Funds
Community Resource Coordination Groups
Noneducational Community-Based Support Services
Texas Education Agency Login (TEAL)
TEA Help Desk