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Scientifically Based Research – NOTE: Scientifically Based Research is defined in NCLB. Peer-Reviewed Research is used interchangeably with Scientifically Based Research in IDEA 2004.
- Involves the application of rigorous, systemic and objective procedures to obtain reliable and valid knowledge relevant to education activities and programs.
- Uses systemic, empirical methods that draw on observation or experiment.
- Involves rigorous data analyses that are adequate to test the stated hypothesis and justify the general conclusions drawn.
- Relies on measurements of observational methods that provide reliable and valid data across evaluators and observers, multiple measurements and observations and studies by the same and different investigators.
- Is evaluated using experimental or quasi- experimental designs in which individuals, entities, programs or activities are assigned to different conditions and with appropriate controls to evaluate the effects of the condition of interest with a preference for random assignment experiments, or other designs that contain within design or across design controls
- Ensures that experimental studies are presented in sufficient detail and clarity to allow for replication or at a minimum offer the opportunity to build systemically on their findings.
- Have been accepted by a peer-reviewed journal of independent experts through a comparably rigorous, objective and scientific review.
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/nclb/QandA2002/policyguide.htm#TIFscientifically
School District– The term “school district” and “school” are used to refer to the entity that has legal authority, control and responsibility for public education in a city, county, town (or combination of these), or other subdivision of a state.
Schools Interoperability Framework Association – A 501 © 3 non-profit organization driven by K-12 education technology providers and users to revolutionize the management and accessibility of data within schools and school districts and states. SIF enables diverse applications to interact and share data efficiently, reliably and securely regardless of the platform hosting the applications. http://www.sifinfo.org/
Scientific, Research-based Instruction – Curriculum and educational interventions that are research based and have been proven to be effective for most students
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 –A civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities. The law applies to public elementary and secondary schools, as well as to other entities. Under Section 504, students may receive accommodations and modifications.
Shared Services Arrangement (SSA) – An agreement between two or more local
education agencies (LEAs) and /or education service centers (ESCs) that provides
services for the entities involved. Frequently, LEAs find it advantageous to share
personnel or services, particularly when a LEA cannot justify the cost of employing a
specialized staff member on a full time basis, but a group of LEAs can justify a portion of the salary or service.Short-Term Instructional Objectives/Benchmarks – Statements in an IEP that describe small steps a student must learn or master before he/she can accomplish the “measurable annual goals” set for him/her.
– Created in 1995 by the 74th Legislature to govern the standards of the education profession. The 15-member board oversees all aspects of public school educator certification, continuing education, and standards of conduct. http://www.sbec.state.tx.us/SBECOnline/about/about.asp
Special Education – Specially designed instruction, at no cost to parents, to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability, including instruction conducted in the classroom, in the home, in hospitals and institutions, and in other settings; and instruction in physical education.
Special Education Rules and Regulations – Federal regulations (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act), State Law (Texas Education Code), and State Rules (Texas Administrative Code: Commissioner's and State Board of Education Rules concerning Special Education) that govern the delivery of special education in the state of Texas.
Specially Designed Instruction – Ways that special education professionals adapt the content, methodology (approaches to teaching certain grade level content), or the delivery of instruction to address the unique needs that result from the child’s disability. Specially designed instruction should also ensure that the eligible child has access to the general curriculum so that he or she can meet the educational standards of the school district that apply to all children.
Specific Learning Disability (SLD) – A disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in using language, spoken or written, which disorder may manifest itself in the imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell, or do mathematical calculations. The term includes such conditions as perceptual disabilities, brain injury, minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia, and developmental aphasia. The term does not include a learning problem that is primarily the result of visual, hearing, or motor disabilities, of mental retardation, of emotional disturbance, or of environmental, cultural, or economic disadvantage.
Speech Impairment (SI) – A communication disorder (such as stuttering, impaired articulation), a language impairment, or a voice impairment that adversely affects a student’s educational performance.
State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC)State Board of Education – A 15-member elected board which, along with the Commissioner of Education, oversees the public education system of Texas in accordance with the Texas Education Code. http://www.tea.state.tx.us/sboe/
State Complaint – A written complaint that can be filed by any organization or individual claiming that a school district within the state has either violated a requirement of Part B of IDEA (the part that contains all requirements regarding the delivery of special education services) or the state’s special education law or regulations. State complaints must be filed within one year of the alleged violation.
State-Developed Alternative Assessment (SDAA) – An assessment developed by the Texas Education Agency to evaluate the academic progress of students with disabilities enrolled in Grades 3-8 who receive instruction in the TEKS in a subject area tested by the TAKS; but for whom the TAKS, even with allowable accommodations, is not an appropriate measure of their academic achievements.State Performance Plan (SPP) – The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) of 2004 requires each State to develop a six-year performance plan. This State Performance Plan (Texas SPP) evaluates the State’s efforts to implement the requirements and purposes of IDEA and illustrates how the State will continuously improve upon this implementation. In alignment with IDEA, the OSEP has identified five monitoring priorities and twenty indicators to be included in the SPP. For each of the indicators, the State must report progress on measurable and rigorous targets and improvement activities over a six-year period of time in the SPP. The SPP is submitted to the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) at the U.S. Department of Education (USDE).
Student Health & Related Services – Allows public school districts to obtain
Medicaid reimbursement for ten approved health-related services provided to Medicaid
eligible students receiving special education services.Student Introduction Portfolio – A compilation of photographs, work samples, pertinent educational and medical health/medical records, family and background information, etc., used by parents as a communication tool to assist others in getting to know the student for who he or she is and not just for his or her disability.
Summary of Performance (SOP)– A summary of the student’s academic achievement and functional performance that includes recommendations to assist the student in meeting his or her postsecondary goals.
Supplemental Aids and Services – Aids, services, and other supports that are provided in regular education classes or other education-related settings to enable children with disabilities to be educated with nondisabled children to the maximum extent appropriate. Examples of supplemental aids and services might be assistive technologies such as a computer or adapted physical education.
Surrogate Parent – A district assigns a surrogate parent to ensure the rights of a child are protected if no parent can be identified; the district, after reasonable efforts, cannot discover the whereabouts of a parent; or the child is a ward of the state under the laws of the state. The surrogate parent represents the student with a disability as a parent would in all matters of identification, evaluation, ARD process, IEP development, transition planning, educational placement, and provision of a free appropriate public education. An individual assigned to act as a surrogate must complete a training program within 90 calendar days after being initially assigned as a surrogate.
Technical Assistance & Dissemination Centers – IDEA’s Technical Assistance and Dissemination program (TA&D) provides technical assistance and information through grants awarded to institutes, Regional Resource Centers, clearinghouses, and programs that support states and local entities in building capacity to improve early intervention, education, and transitional services and results for children with disabilities and their families. Grants target various topics, disabilities, age ranges, and audiences.
Texas Administrative Code (TAC) – The rules adopted by the State Board of Education (SBOE) and the Commissioner of Education are part of a larger body of state agency rules that are collected and published by the Office of the Secretary of State as the Texas Administrative Code (TAC). SBOE and commissioner’s rules are codified under Title 19, Part II, of the TAC. Title 19 is Education, and Part II is the Texas Education Agency. The SBOE and the commissioner of education may adopt new rules or amendments to existing rules.
Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) – A primary and secondary education standardized test used in Texas to assess student attainment of math, english, science, reading, and social science skills required under Texas education standards. Though created before the No Child Left Behind Act was passed, it complies with the law. It replaced the previous test called the TAAS in 2003.
TAKS-Alternative (TAKS – ALT)-- Version of the TAKS used to assess students who do not qualify for the TAKS, TAKS-I, or TAKS-M due to severe cognitive disabilities. This is a state-developed assessment, as required by IDEA, and will eventually replace locally developed assessments.TAKS-Inclusive (TAKS – I) -- Standardized test that will eventually replace the SDAA II in the state of Texas. It will be administered to special education students who are performing on grade level. Questions will match the the regular TAKS; however, there may be fewer questions, larger print, or other modifications.
TAKS-Modified (TAKS – M) -- Version of the TAKS test that will be given to students who perform below grade level.
Texas Council for the Developmental Disabilities (TCDD)– A 27-member board dedicated to ensuring that all Texans with developmental disabilities, about 365,760 individuals, have the opportunity to be independent, productive and valued members of their communities. Using a variety of methods, the Council works to ensure that the service delivery system provides comprehensive services and supports that meet people’s needs, are easy to access and are cost effective and improve people’s understanding of disability issues. http://www.txddc.state.tx.us/
Texas Dept. of Aging & Disability Services (DADS)– State agency established in September 2004 as a result of House Bill 2292 (78th Texas Legislature), which consolidated:
• mental retardation services and state school programs of the Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation
• community care, nursing facility, and long-term care regulatory services of the Department of Human Services, and
• aging services and programs of the Department on Aging.Texas Department of Assistive & Rehabilitative Services (DARS)– State agency whose mission is to(1)administer programs that help Texans with disabilities find jobs through vocational rehabilitation, (2)ensure that Texans with disabilities live independently in their communities, and (3)prepare children with disabilities and developmental delays to meet education goals. A department of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, the department has four divisions
• Rehabilitation Services
• Blind Services
• Early Childhood Intervention Services
• Disability Determination ServicesTexas Department of State Health Services (DSHS)– State agency that promotes optimal health for individuals and communities while providing effective health, mental health and substance abuse services to Texans. Created on September 1, 2004, DSHS combined four agencies into one (as directed by HB 2292):
• Texas Department of Health
• Mental Health Programs of Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation
• Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse
• Texas Health Care Information CouncilTexas Health & Human Services Commission (HHS)– State agency that provides oversight responsibilities for designated Health and Human Services agencies, and administers certain health and human services programs including the Texas Medicaid Program, Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and Medicaid waste, fraud, and abuse investigations. http://www.hhsc.state.tx.us/
Texas Special Education Continuing Advisory Committee – Established as a result of federal regulation and state law for the purpose of providing policy guidance with respect to special education and related services for children with disabilities in Texas.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) – Category for a student who has had a sudden injury to the brain. This injury has been caused by an external event resulting in total or partial functional disability or psychosocial impairment, or both, that adversely affects the student’s educational performance. The term applies to open or closed head injuries resulting in impairments in one or more areas, such as cognition; language; memory; attention; reasoning; abstract thinking; judgment; problem-solving; sensory, perceptual, and motor abilities; psychosocial behavior; physical functions; information processing; and speech. This term does not apply to brain injuries that are congenital or degenerative, or to brain injuries induced by birth trauma.
Texas Behavior Supports Initiative (TBSI) – Established in 2001 in response to Senate Bill 1196, the TBSI is designed to build capacity in Texas schools for the provision of positive behavioral support (PBS) to all students. http://www.txbsi.org/
Texas Council of Administrators of Special Education (TCASE) – A professional society comprised of nearly 1,200 members who administer and support special education programs throughout the state of Texas. http://www.tcase.org/
Texas Continuous Improvement Process (TCIP) – Permanent, annual process that the State uses to continuously identify areas for improvement and implement strategies to improve the provision of special education in Texas. http://www.tea.state.tx.us/special.ed/tcip/Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment System – Provided for each LEP student for whom an observation protocol (OP) rating document was submitted. This report indicates the student’s English language proficiency ratings for the four language domains assessed and the assessments that were used (OP, RPTE, TAKS) to determine the ratings. Districts may use this report to meet Title III requirements for notifying parents within 30 days of the start of the school year of their children’s annual progress in English language proficiency.
Texas Education Code (TEC) – Codification of laws applying to all educational institutions supported in whole or in part by state tax funds. The Texas Education Code is maintained on the web by the Texas Legislature Online.
Texas Education Agency (TEA)– The state department of education or state education agency (SEA), which is responsible for the public education of all students in Texas. The Texas Education Agency works with local school districts to ensure that all public education laws, rules, and regulations are followed.
Texas Education Telecommunications Network (TETN) – Governance direction of TETN is vested in an eight (8) member Governing Committee consisting of three members from the Texas Education Agency and five (5) members of the Commissioner’s Cabinet for Regional Services (CCRS). Responsibilities include developing policies and approving strategic plans as well as appointing ad hoc committees as needed for specific purposes. http://www.tetn.net/
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) – The required curriculum for each grade level used in Texas public schools. TEKS should be considered the general curriculum referenced in the IDEA. Parents can access the TEKS on the Texas Education Agency web page at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/teks/ or ask the school to provide a copy of the TEKS for their child’s age appropriate grade level to use in the development of the IEP.
Texas Medicaid & Healthcare Partnership – A coalition of contractors that carries out the Medicaid claims payment and Primary Care Case Management administrator duties for the State of Texas, under contract with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.
Texas Project FIRST – Families, Information, Resources, Support and Training 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. The goal is to provide accurate and consistent information to parents and families of students with disabilities.Texas School for the Blind & Visually Impaired (TSBVI)– Serves as a public school in the continuum of statewide placements for students who have a visual impairment. It is also a statewide resource for parents and professionals. Students, ages 6 through 21, who are blind, deaf blind, or visually impaired, including those with additional disabilities, are eligible for consideration for services at TSBVI. http://www.tsbvi.edu/
Texas Youth Commission (TYC) – Operates year-round educational programs for incarcerated youth ages 10 through 21 within each of its institutional schools. http://www.tyc.state.tx.us/
Texas School for the Deaf (TSD) – The oldest continuously operating publicly funded school in Texas. In addition to educating students who are deaf and hard of hearing, TSD serves as a resource center on deafness for students, parents, professionals and others throughout the state. http://www.tsd.state.tx.us/
Texas Steering Committee -- A group of key stakeholders appointed by TEA to represent diverse perspectives in assisting the State through the ongoing Texas Continuous Improvement Process (TCIP).
Title 1 of the Elementary and Secondary Eduction Act of 1965 – The place in the law that supports students who are considered “disadvantaged” by ensuring that all children have a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education and reach, at a minimum, proficiency on challenging State academic standards and state academic assessments.
Transition Services – A coordinated set of activities that:• Improves the academic and functional skills of the student in order to facilitate the student’s movement from school to post-school activities such as post-secondary education, vocational education, integrated employment (including supported employment), continuing and adult education, adult services, independent living or community participation;
• Is based on the individual student’s needs, taking into account his or her strengths, preferences, and interests; and
• Includes instruction, related services, community experiences, the development of employment and other post-school adult living objectives and, when appropriate, the acquisition of daily living skills and functional vocational evaluation.United States Department of Education – A Cabinet-level department of the United States government administered by the United States Secretary of Education.
It has 10 principle departments responsible for overseeing its programs:
• Federal Student Aid (FSA);
• Institute of Education Sciences (IES);
• Office of the Deputy Secretary (ODS).
• Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE);
• Office of English Language Acquisition (OELA);
• Office of Innovation and Improvement (OII);
• Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE);
• Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools (OSDFS);
• Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS); and
• Office of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE).Universal Design – A way of designing products and services so that they can be used by people with the widest range of abilities.
Universal Screening – A step taken by school personnel early in the school year to determine which students are “at risk” for not meeting grade level standards. Universal screening can be accomplished by reviewing a student’s recent performance on state or district tests or by administering an academic screening to all students in a given grade. Students whose scores on the screening fall below a certain cut-off point are identified as needing continued progress monitoring and possibly more intensive interventions.
Vaughn Gross Texas Reading & Language Arts Center – Located at the University of Texas at Austin, TCRLA is committed to providing leadership to educators in effective reading instruction through its diversified research, technical assistance, and professional development projects. The Center emphasizes scientifically based reading research and instruction and is dedicated to improving reading instruction for all students, especially struggling readers, English language learners, and special education students. http://www.texasreading.org/utcrla/Visual Impairment (VI) – Any type of sight problem that, even with glasses/contacts, adversely affects school performance. A student with a visual impairment can be further described as partially sighted or blind based on the degree of visual impairment and his/her educational needs.
Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) – A set of services offered to individuals with disabilities designed to enable participants to attain skills, resources, attitudes, and expectations needed to compete in the interview process, get a job, and keep a job.
Vocational Rehabilitation Agency – A publicly funded state agency that provides direct and indirect services to youth with disabilities as they transition from school to work, in order to maximize their employability, independence and integration into the workplace and the community.
Windham School District – Provides academic and vocational education to eligible offenders incarcerated within the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ). Windham operates in Institutional Division (ID) prisons and State Jail (SJD) facilities. http://www.windhamschooldistrict.org/A to D • E to M • N to R • S to Z
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