Special Education Small and Rural Schools (SPED SRS)
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Technical assistance and support needs for the state. Discover special education resources and learning opportunities from experts in the field.
This extensive resource has been designed for educators and families and is intended to serve as a repository of the most commonly used Assistive Technology resources.
SPEDTex: Special Education Resources
The Special Education Information Center (SPEDTex) provides resources and interactive features for increasing family awareness of disabilities and special education processes, with the goal of improving partnerships between schools and families.
The Texas Legal Framework for the Child-Centered Special Education Process
The purpose of the project is to provide and maintain an updated web-based platform to assist stakeholders such as local educational agencies (LEAs), advocates, and parents in learning about state and federal laws and regulations by providing rich resources regarding obligations and rights for the provision of a free and appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment to students with disabilities.
The Evaluation Certification Reimbursement Program (ECRP) provides funding for current school staff members to further their education to become an Educational Diagnostician or a School Psychologist. Upon completion of the certification program, participants will have committed to providing a minimum of 3 years of evaluation service in a small and/or rural school systems in Texas. The program is funded through a grant from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and facilitated by Region 15 ESC.
Eligibility for the ECRP:
- Currently work in and/or be sponsored by a school system that is:
- Classified as small (serving 700 or fewer K-12 students),
- Rural (located 60 or more miles from the nearest ESC), or
- A member of a Shared Services Arrangement (SSA) *Note: A list of eligible school systems*
- Be currently enrolled and actively taking classes in an Educational Diagnostician or a School Psychology certification program.
Upcoming application windows:
October 1-14, 2025, and April 1-14, 2026
Texas SPED Support - ECRP Professional Opportunities
Speech-Language Pathologist Small and/or Rural Tuition Reimbursement
The Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) Small and/or Rural (SRS) Graduate Tuition provides financial support for students accepted into the Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology Distance Venue program at Texas Woman’s University (TWU). This Distance Venue is a collaborative effort between the Texas Education Agency (TEA), Education Service Centers (ESCs) 10 and 15, TWU, and School Systems, designed to help address the shortage of licensed and certified SLPs in Texas public schools and charter schools. Prior to receiving any monies towards tuition reimbursement, participants must commit to serving a minimum of three years in a small and/or rural school or a Shared Services Arrangement (SSA).
Eligibility for the SLP SRS Tuition Reimbursement:
- Be accepted into the M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology – Distance Venue program at Texas Woman’s University (TWU).
- For more information visit ESC 10 Speech-Language Pathology Master's Degree Program
- Currently work in and/or be sponsored by a school system that is:
- Classified as small (serving 700 or fewer K-12 students),
- Rural (located 60 or more miles from the nearest ESC), or
- A member of a Shared Services Arrangement (SSA) *Note: A list of eligible school systems*
Map and Survey of Programs
Map Description
This map represents Special Education Support Programs for Students with Intensive Needs in Texas. It includes special education support programs (e.g., self-contained classrooms and multi-district classrooms) as options for students with intensive needs. The map showcases information provided by Special Education Directors of school systems and fiscal agents of shared service arrangements (SSAs) from across Texas who participated in the annual map survey.
Map Survey
The Texas Education Agency's Special Education Small and Rural Schools is gathering information on the use of specialized programs (such as self-contained classrooms or multi-district classrooms) as a program option for students with intensive needs.
The TEA would like to invite all current Special Education Directors to participate in filling out the annual survey. By sharing information and confirming specifics about your programs in your School System/Shared Services Arrangement (that you are the fiscal agent of), your data will be reflected on the Statewide Program Map. The survey will be open each Winter/Spring and will take approximately 3-5 minutes.