The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has sent out correspondence concerning the state’s special education allotment, required data collection and reporting for special education, and upcoming training opportunities on these topics ahead of the 2026-2027 school year. This correspondence covers changes made to special education funding for the 2026-27 school year, as implemented by House Bill 2 and Senate Bill 568.
Texas is transitioning to a service intensity model for special education funding so that funding is driven by a students’ specific needs, regardless of the instructional arrangement or setting.
For the 2026-27 school year only, school systems must report special education participation through PEIMS using both the old instructional arrangement approach as well as the new service intensity approach. Service intensity information must be reported by the end of submission period for attendance for the first 6-week period. The agency will not be able to provide information on funding levels associated with the service intensity approach until the end of the school year. Because of this, the agency will ensure that special education funding that a system receives will be no less than what they would have received under the old instructional arrangement approach.
To help school systems in transitioning to the new intensity model, the TEA will host multiple training opportunities. TEA’s Office of Special Populations and Student Supports (OSPSS) will host a webinar on April 21 at 2pm. This webinar will be recorded and posted on the same webpage shortly after its conclusion.
Additionally, OSPSS will hold weekly office hours starting on May 7, 2026. There will be two opportunities a week, with office hours occurring on Thursdays from 9-9:30 am and 4-4:30 pm. Registration for office hours can be found here.
The full correspondence from TEA can be accessed here.
