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No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) – A bipartisan landmark education reform law designed to hold schools accountable for the performance of students who are struggling to learn. It is built on four principles:
- Increase accountability for student performance.
- Focus on what works based on scientific research.
- Empower parents and expand parental involvement.
- Increase local control and flexibility.
Non-categorical Early Childhood – In Texas, a child between the ages of 3-5 years may be eligible to receive special education and related services under a non-specific disability category called “non-categorical early childhood” or “NEC”. This disability category is assigned to preschoolers who are evaluated as having mental retardation, emotional disturbance, a specific learning disability, or autism. A determination of NEC must comply with criteria set forth in federal and state law as described in the Noncategorical Early Childhood framework of the Legal Framework for the Child-Centered Process.
(Note to parents: It is often difficult to diagnose very young children, who with early intervention and the appropriate services may not continue to need special education when they reach first grade. “Non-Categorical Early Childhood” allows preschoolers to benefit from special education services without being assigned to a specific disability category.)
Notice – See “Prior Written Notice”.
Notice of Procedural Safeguards – A written document containing a full explanation of the procedural safeguards, written in the native language of the parents (unless it clearly is not feasible to do so) and written in an easily understandable manner, available under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and under regulations promulgated by the Secretary of Education. A copy of the procedural safeguards must be given to the parents of a child with a disability only 1 time a year, Exceptions to this are that a copy also must be given to the parents upon:Notice of Proposed Rule Making – The U.S. Department of Education has published regulations to implement the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA). The official version of this notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) is published in the Federal Register.
- initial referral or parental request for evaluation;
- upon receipt of the first special education complaint filed with TEA;
- upon receipt of the first due process hearing complaint in a school year;
- when a decision is made to take disciplinary action that constitutes a change in placement; or
- request by a parent.
Texas Project FIRST is an activity of the Texas Continuing Improvement Process (TCIP) under the auspices of the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and Region 9 Education Service Center, and is focused on helping to fulfill the goals of TEA and the Parent Training Committee
TEA Parent Information Line 1-800-252-9668Texas Project FIRST - A project of Family To Family Network - Contact Web Administrator