• Every child deserves an education, and the Special Education department is dedicated to providing child-centered programming options accessible to all children regardless of race, gender, economic status, physical, emotional, or cognitive abilities.  We empower students by preparing them for future education, employment, and independent living opportunities. We do this through the development of academic and social-emotional skills.

     

    Special Education is a supplementary program that addresses the provision of a free and appropriate education to students with special needs, including students with a variety of disabilities requiring additional services or assistance, in order to make educational progress. Federal and State legislation define the specific disabilities to be served and the services provided to eligible students.  We offer many support programs for children with disabilities from birth through age twenty-one. 

     

    We encourage our parents to be a part of the Special Education process by participating in Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) meetings, asking questions, and working closely with their child's teacher(s) and school.

  • Supplemental Special Education Services

    TEA is providing online accounts of $1,500 to parents of eligible students with significant and complex disabilities who have been impacted by COVID-19 school closures. 

    Calallen ISD will notify the parents of all students who are eligible based on information provided by the Texas Education Agency.

    Overview of Supplemental Special Education Services (SSES)

     

    Supplemental Special Education Services (SSES) are on-line accounts for eligible parents/caregivers of students with significant and complex disabilities that have been impacted by COVID-19 school closures.

    Families of students with eligible disabilities can use the on-line accounts to obtain special educational resources and supplies and/or services such as additional speech therapy or other specific services. SSES credits are up to $1,500 per student to be used to supplement what otherwise happens in school to help students continue to make educational progress.

    Families can receive up to $1,500 per student to purchase goods and services.

    What is SSES?

    An online account that families can use to obtain goods and services up to the dollar value in the account which will supplement and bolster services a child is already receiving in school. 

    Who Qualifies?

    The SSES program is for students with significant cognitive and complex disabilities:

    ⬢ All students must have been enrolled in a Texas public school in the 2019-2020 school year and be currently enrolled in the 2020-2021 school year.

    ⬢ Grades K-2: A combination of the student’s primary disability and their educational setting will determine qualification.

    ⬢ Grades 3-12: Students who qualify for the STAAR ALT II assessment.

    For more specific information on criteria visit tea.texas.gov/SSES.

    What can Families Purchase?

    Families can purchase resources and supplies or services for their students, items such as:

    ⬢ Tutoring in all subjects

    ⬢ Educationally related services (OT, PT, BCBA, SLP)

    ⬢ Textbook, curriculum, or other instructional materials

    ⬢ Computer hardware, software, or other technological devices that are used for educational needs 

     

    Servicios Complementarios de Educación Especial

     
    TEA está proporcionando cuentas en línea de $1,500 a los padres de estudiantes elegibles con discapacidades significativas y complejas que se han visto afectados por el cierre de escuelas debido al COVID-19.
     
    Calallen ISD notificará a los padres de todos los estudiantes que son elegibles según la información proporcionada por la Agencia de Educación de Texas.
     

    Resumen de Servicios de Educación Especial Complementaria (SSES) 

    Los Servicios de Educación Especial Complementaria (SSES, por sus siglas en inglés) son cuentas en línea disponibles para padres/cuidadores elegibles de estudiantes con discapacidades significativas y complejas que se han visto afectados por el cierre de escuelas debido a la COVID-19.

    Las familias de estudiantes con discapacidades elegibles pueden usar las cuentas en línea para obtener recursos y suministros de educación especial o servicios como terapia del habla adicional u otros servicios específicos. Los créditos de SSES son de hasta $1,500 por estudiante; se utilizan para complementar las clases que de otro modo se darían en la escuela, para ayudar a los estudiantes a continuar con su progreso educativo.

    Las familias pueden recibir hasta $1,500 por estudiante para comprar productos y servicios.

    ¿Qué son SSES?

    Una cuenta en línea que las familias pueden usar para obtener productos y servicios hasta el valor en dólares en la cuenta que complementará y reforzará los servicios que el menor ya está recibiendo en la escuela.

    ¿Quién califica?

    El programa de SSES es para estudiantes con discapacidades cognitivas significativas y complejas:

    ⬢ Todos los estudiantes deben haber estado inscritos en una escuela pública de Texas durante el año escolar 2019-2020 y también deben estar inscritos actualmente en el año escolar 2020- 2021.

    ⬢ Grados Kindergarten a 2: Una combinación de la discapacidad principal del estudiante y su entorno educativo determinará la calificación.

    ⬢ Grados 3 a 12: Estudiantes que califican para la Evaluación de Preparación Académica del Estado de Texas STAAR ALT II.

    Para obtener información más específica sobre los criterios, visite tea.texas.gov/SSES.

    ¿Qué pueden comprar las familias?

    Las familias pueden comprar recursos y suministros o servicios para los estudiantes, y artículos como:

    ⬢ Tutoría en todas las materias

    ⬢ Servicios educativos (terapia ocupacional [OT], fisioterapia [PT], analista del comportamiento certificado por la Junta [BCBA], Patología del habla y el lenguaje [SLP])

    ⬢ Libros escolares, plan de estudios u otros materiales educativos

    ⬢ Hardware, software u otros dispositivos tecnológicos que se utilizan para fines educativos
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Parent Resources

  • The 2019-2020 Coastal Bend Aging & Disability Resource Directory - This publication is brought to you by the Aging and Disability Resource Directory Committee. The committee members represent 2-1-1 Texas, Area Agency on Aging of the Coastal Bend, City of Corpus Christi Committee for Persons with Disabilities, Coastal Bend Aging and Disability Resource Center, Coastal Bend Center for Independent Living, Mayor’s Council on Aging, and the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services.

     

    Coastal Bend Aging & Disability Resource Center - The Coastal Bend Aging & Disability Resource Center has professional staff who can assist individuals of any age with disabilities, those over 60 years of age, veterans, family caregivers and agency professionals in the Coastal Bend area including Aransas, Bee, Brooks, Duval, Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kleberg, Live Oak, Nueces, Refugio and San Patricio counties.  They will listen to your unique needs, help to evaluate the types of services needed and provide information and referrals on available services.

     

    Parent's Guide to the Admission, Review, and Dismissal Process - The ARD Guide explains the process by which an individualized education program (IEP) is developed for a student in Special Education and the rights and responsibilities of a parent concerning the process.

     

    Notice of Procedural Safeguards - This Procedural Safeguards document explains the specific rights and responsibilities of the parent in the special education process.

     

    HOPES II - Healthy Outcomes through Prevention & Early Support - A community-based program that supports families with young children 0-5 years of age. This program is designed to bring families, organizations and communities together to promote a healthy parenting connection and remove any barriers that families might face.

     

    Texas Home Visiting Program - Texas Home Visiting is a free program that helps good people be great parents. The program matches parents with a trained home visitor who comes to wherever you live. Your home visitor is a friendly, experienced person who can answer questions about your pregnancy or being a parent and can help you find services that help you care for yourself and your children.

    Texas Home Visiting uses programs that are proven to support families from pregnancy until the time your child enters kindergarten. Home visiting supports you and helps you set and reach goals for yourself and your child.

    Texas Home Visiting uses four programs that have been proven to help children and families. Please contact the Texas Home Visiting program in your community, and someone can help you find the best program for you and your family.

     

    Texas Education Agency - Special Education Website - The Special Education Website lists all resources for teachers, parents, and Administrators.

     

    Early Childhood Intervention Services (ECI) - Services for children ages birth to three who may need specific support/services related to developmental disabilities or delays.

     

    Resources for Disasters and Disability (REDDy) directory - Project REDD (Research and Education on Disability and Disaster) is a research project affiliated with the Center on Disability and Development. Project REDD staff conduct research on and evaluate how disaster affects people with disabilities and provide training and resources so the public can be better prepared and equipped in the event of a disaster or emergency.

     

    Special Education Dispute Resolution Processes - The Texas Education Agency (TEA) offers multiple processes for resolving disuptes related to special education: individualized education program facilitation (FIEP), mediation, special education complaints, and due process hearings.  

     

    Texas Parent to Parent - Texas Parent to Parent provides support, information, and education to families of children of all ages who have disabilities or chronic illness.

     

    CLASS (Community Living & Support Services) - CLASS provides home- and community-based services to people with related conditions as a cost-effective alternative to placement in an intermediate care facility for individuals with an intellectual disability or a related condition. A related condition is a disability, other than an intellectual disability, that originated before age 22 and that affects a person's ability to function in daily life.

     

    MDCP (Medically Dependent Children Program) - The program provides services to support families caring for children and young adults who are medically dependent and to encourage de-institutionalization of children in nursing facilities. Texas Health and Human Services employees provide case management services.

     

    HCS (Home and Community-based Services) - The Home and Community-based Services program provides individualized services and supports to persons with intellectual disabilities who are living with their family, in their own home or in other community settings, such as small group homes.

     

    Partners Resource Network - The mission of Partners Resource Network, Inc. is to empower parents of children with disabilities to be effective advocates for their children and to promote positive parent/professional partnerships. (Toll Free: (877) 832-8945; E-mail: prnteam@sbcglobal.net)

  • Medicaid Waiver Programs Information

    There are three waiting lists you should get on now for service that will make a big difference later:

    • CLASS (Community Living & Support Services) - CLASS provides home- and community-based services to people with related conditions as a cost-effective alternative to placement in an intermediate care facility for individuals with an intellectual disability or a related condition. A related condition is a disability, other than an intellectual disability, that originated before age 22 and that affects a person's ability to function in daily life.
    • MDCP (Medically Dependent Children’s Program) - The program provides services to support families caring for children and young adults age 20 and younger who are medically dependent and to encourage de-institutionalization of children and young adults who reside in nursing facilities.
    • HCS (Home & Community Services) - The Home and Community-based Services program provides individualized services and supports to persons with intellectual disabilities who are living with their family, in their own home or in other community settings, such as small group homes. 

    These programs provide funding, based on the income of the individual with disabilities (not the family) for therapies, assisted/supported living, home and vehicle modifications, nursing, adaptive aids, and more.  Waiting lists are years long; so, sign up now!

    Remember that you can always decline the services when your child’s name is at the top of the list.

    The longer you wait to get on the list, the longer it will take to receive the necessary services and supports.

  • Community Events and Opportunities

    Beach Wheelchairs at Malaquite Beach - Five wheelchairs, designed for use in the soft sand of the beach, are available for free. To check out the wheelchair, leave a driver's license or personal wheelchair at the visitor center until the wheelchair is returned. All wheelchairs must be returned by 4:30 p.m. that day. Please visit the link for futher rules regarding the use of the beach wheelchairs.

    Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History Sensory Night -Sensory night focuses on inclusion for children with sensory sensitivities. They provide a calm and friendly environment with many engaging themed activities. Check the museum events calendar for the next upcoming event.

    Corpus Christi Park and Recreation all-terrain wheelchairs - A whole new avenue of fun has opened up for area beaches like Padre Island, Magee Beach, and North Beach for handicapped people who often can’t push their chairs through the sand to get to the water. The city will enable individuals with mobility impairments to participate in beach recreational activities with new floating wheelchairs.The Corpus Christi Park and Recreation Department has purchased seven new beach floating wheelchairs to allow people with disabilities to not only make it to the water’s edge, but to also float in the water.

    C2C Coach to Communicate - The Coach To Communicate project provides a webinar and face-to-face/online individual parent coaching sessions at no cost for parents, caregivers, teachers, and service providers of children with autism spectrum disorder. Participants will be instructed in how to improve the communication skills of their own children.  This project serves Texas parents, caregivers, teachers, or service providers who have a child up to age 22 with autism spectrum disorder or similar characteristics and who need instruction in communication skills.

    Disclaimer of Endorsement

    These events and resources contain external links to information created and maintained by other public and private organizations. These links are provided for the user's convenience. The Calallen ISD does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness or completeness of this outside information. The inclusion of links or pointers to particular items is not intended to reflect their importance, nor is it intended as an endorsement by the Calallen ISD of any views expressed or products or services offered on these outside sites or the organizations sponsoring the sites. The Calallen ISD does not endorse individual vendors, products or services. Therefore, any reference herein to any vendor, product or services by trade name, trademark, or manufacturer or otherwise does not constitute or imply the endorsement, recommendation or approval of the Calallen ISD.

  • Notice of Destruction of Special Education Records

     

    Special Education records, which have been collected by the Calallen Independent School District related to the identification, evaluation, educational placement, or the provision of special education in the district, must be maintained under state and federal laws for a period of seven years after special education services have ended for the student.  Special education services end when the student no longer is eligible for services, graduates, completes his/her educational program by age 22, or moves from the district. 

     

    After seven years, the records are no longer useful to the district, but may be useful to the parent/guardian or former student in applying for social security benefits, or other purposes.

     

    Destruction of records is the best protection against improper and unauthorized disclosure. 

     

    This notification is to inform parents/guardians and former students of the Calallen Independent School District’s intent to destroy the Special Education records of students whose special education services ended as of the end of the 2016-2017 school year.  These records will be destroyed unless the parent/guardian or eligible (adult) student notifies the school district otherwise.

     

    The parent/guardian or eligible (adult) student may request a copy of the records in writing or in person prior to August 1, 2024 at the following address:

     

    Calallen ISD Administration Building

    Office of Special Education

    4205 Wildcat Drive

    Corpus Christi, TX 78410

  • SPEDTEX

    Description:

    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.

    Contact information:

    Phone: 1-855-773-3839

    Email: inquire@spedtex.org

    Live Chat: www.spedtex.org