Fifth Circuit Dismisses Conroe ISD Student Assault Lawsuit
Ruling: An ISD is not federally liable over claims that an allegedly racist special-ed student repeatedly verbally and physically harassed an African American special-ed student.
Special Populations
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2025-26 PEIMS: Special Student Populations
Fourth in a series.
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TEA Seeks Special-Ed Hearing Officers
The TEA is accepting applications from licensed attorneys for special education hearing officer positions.
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$ / Courts / Employees / Special Populations
Ex-Port Arthur ISD Special-Ed Administrator Loses Retaliation Lawsuit
Fifth Circuit: Ex-special-ed administrator lacks constitutional protections against being retaliated against for reporting, to his principal, that teachers had mistreated special-ed students, and for cooperating with a CPS investigation.
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New Speech Pathology/Audiology Licensing Rules Adopted
An extensive set of newly adopted licensing rules governing Texas speech pathologists and audiologists became…
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North East ISD Loses Fifth Circuit Special-Ed Appeal
Ruling: Although an ISD made a “laudable effort” to ensure a special-ed student progressed academically, the district failed in its responsibility to address his severe behavioral issues that included the student’s tendency to frequently run away from school.
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Morath Dismisses Lake Travis ISD Parent’s Special-Ed Video Appeal
Ruling: A parent (and her attorney) can view — but not “receive” — video surveillance footage that the parent claims may have captured a teacher’s alleged assault of her special-ed child. That’s because the footage is not the subject of litigation the parent has filed.
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Fifth Circuit Sides with Pearland ISD in Special-Ed Dispute Involving Chronically Absent Student
Fifth Circuit: An ISD correctly concluded that a student didn’t qualify for dyslexia-related special-ed services because the student was chronically absent from school — and because her parents refused the district’s offer to have her tested for learning disabilities.
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New TEA Hotline Supports Students Experiencing Homelessness
The TEA today (Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025) launched Texas Education for Homeless Children and Youth…
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TEA Special-Ed Website Feedback Survey Closes Oct. 31
The TEA is seeking feedback — from parents, educators, teachers and administrators — about the…
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$ / Courts / Employees / Special Populations
Fifth Circuit: Dallas ISD (Still) Not Liable in Special-Ed Aide’s Death
Ruling: An ISD has legal immunity from being federally sued by the children of a teaching assistant who reportedly died from injuries sustained from being physically assaulted in her classroom by a special-ed student.
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Fifth Circuit: Mineral Wells ISD Properly Expelled Special-Ed Student
Ruling: An ISD took the proper steps in expelling a special-ed ninth grade student for drawing a knife on another student at school.
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Morath Grants Grandview ISD Parent’s Special-Ed Appeal
Ruling: A school district can’t arbitrarily block a parent’s special-ed grievance from reaching the school board level for a decision just because the TEA has ruled on the parent’s separate special-ed complaint to the agency.
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TEA Releases Innovative Autism Grant Services Report
Sensory rooms, facilitating selected staff to become registered behavior technicians (RBT) and parental/community engagement programs…
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$ / Courts / Employees / Special Populations
Dallas ISD Not Liable in Death of Assaulted Special-Ed Teaching Assistant
U.S. Fifth Circuit: An ISD has legal immunity from being sued by the children of a teaching assistant who reportedly died from injuries sustained from being physically assaulted in her classroom by a special-ed student.
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Morath: Lewisville ISD Violated Student Psychological Testing Law
Ruling: An ISD should have obtained parental written permission before administering two psychological “screenings” to…
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Fifth Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Clear Creek ISD Special-Ed Student’s Lawsuit
Ruling: A federal lawsuit claiming that an ISD didn’t comply with the directives ordered by a special-ed hearing officer — to provide a student with a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) — is dismissed.
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Fifth Circuit: Brownsville ISD not Federally Liable for Special-Ed Student’s Injuries
Ruling: An ISD’s policy to mostly hire the lowest level of state-certified aides to assist special-ed students did not violate the rights of a disabled student, who was twice injured while in the presence of his assigned aide.
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Parents May Apply for $1,500 Special-Ed Related Grants Starting Feb. 3
The TEA has announced that the application window for the state program that provides $1,500…
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TEA Conducts Special-Ed Related Survey
The TEA is requesting responses from educators and others to a survey about a statewide individualized education program (IEP) digital platform that the TEA is considering implementing.
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New Youth Resource Map Connects Texas Homeless Youth with Essential Services
The Texas Appleseed nonprofit advocacy group today launched a new online tool — the Texas…
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TEA Rules Update
Adopted TEA rule on special-ed related investigations.
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SMU’s Free Short Graphic Novel Helps K-12 Educators See Homelessness Through their Students’ Eyes
Southern Methodist University (SMU) education researchers on Tuesday launched a free 16-page graphic novel —…
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“Young Ambassadors” Sought to Share Health Related Info with Texas Youth with Disabilities
Four chosen TCDD Youth Ambassadors for Choice-Making in Health Care will receive up to $325 each for their participation.
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Appeals Court Dismisses Property Tax Lawsuit Lyford CISD and 16 Taxpayers Filed Against South Texas ISD
Ruling: Property owners in a three-county area must continue to pay ad valorem taxes to both their “home” school districts and to South Texas ISD.
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TEA Rules Update — Special-Ed
Special-ed student evaluation and IEP facilitation rules.
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Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities to Award Two Grants
The Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities is accepting applications for these two grant opportunities:
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TEA Rules Update
Special-ed, DAEP/safe schools, employee mental health training.
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2024 “Dyslexia Handbook” Update and Revised Rules Become Effective June 30
The TEA issued an advisory today to announce that the 2024 update to the Dyslexia…
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U.S. Supreme Court Rejects Appeal by Ex-Katy ISD Student Over Being Repeatedly Tased by School Resources Officer
The U.S. Supreme Court, without comment, this week declined to consider the appeal filed by…
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TEA Settles Federal Disability Discrimination Complaint Over “Science of Teaching Reading” Certification Exam
A settlement agreement stemming from a federal complaint lodged against the TEA has resulted in…
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TEA Autism Related Grants
ISDs and charters can apply soon for TEA administered grants that seek to increase the…
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Disabled Parent Loses Appeal Over Frisco ISD’s Mandatory Online Student Registration Process
Ruling: An ISD did not have to grant a disabled parent’s request for paper based…
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Fired Klein ISD Teacher Didn’t Violate STAAR Regulations by Handing Special Needs Student his “Whisper Phone” During Testing
Ruling: The education commissioner must reverse his decision that upheld a teacher’s firing over an…
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TEA Seeks Special-Ed Mediators
The TEA is accepting applications from licensed attorneys (with at least these minimum qualifications) to…
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Ex-Katy ISD Special-Ed 11th Grader Loses Third Appeal Over Being Repeatedly Tased by School Resource Officer
Ruling: A federal lawsuit that was filed over the repeated tasing — by a school…
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Agreement Ends Fed’s Inquiry into Pflugerville ISD’s Faulty Student-on-Student Sexual Assault Investigation
The U.S. Department of Education (USDE) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced today that it…
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Criminally Charged Alice ISD Special-Ed Teacher Loses Nonrenewal Appeal
Ruling: Classroom video, parental complaints, a letter from a disability rights advocacy group — and…
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Fifth Circuit Judges Vote 9-7 Against Reconsidering Ruling That Sided with Fort Bend ISD Employees in Student-on-Student Sexual Assault Lawsuit
Ruling: A decision by a three-judge U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals panel that school…
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Fifth Circuit Refuses to Force TEA to adopt “Special Rule” for 18+ Year Old Special-Ed Students
Ruling: The TEA lacks the authority to enact the so-called “Special Rule” that is built…
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Fifth Circuit “Un-Dismisses” Ex-Austin ISD Student’s Special-Ed Lawsuit — Thanks to a U.S. Supreme Court Decision
Ruling: A three-month-old U.S. Supreme Court decision involving a special-ed lawsuit that originated in Michigan…
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Feds say Texas meets special education standards
The Austin American-Statesman reported (June 23) that after years of noncompliance, the TEA has fulfilled…
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Private Residential Facility Can’t Challenge Revocation of TEA’s Approval to Serve Special Needs Students
Ruling: A private residential facility can’t challenge the TEA’s decision to revoke the facility’s approval…
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TEA Seeks Mediators and Court Reporters for Special-Ed Proceedings
The TEA has issued “requests for qualifications” (RFQs) for individuals seeking to be selected to…
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Katy ISD Wins Appeal Involving “Repeatedly Tased” 11th Grade Special-Ed Student
Ruling: A federal disability rights lawsuit filed by the mother of a special-ed student who…
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Hearne ISD Parent’s Special-Ed Appeal to Commissioner Dismissed
Ruling: A parent who previously filed special-ed related complaints against her child’s ISD with the…
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Gladewater ISD Granted Special-Ed Camera Installation Deadline Extension
Ruling: An ISD’s request to extend the state mandated deadline to grant a parental request…
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