How to File a TEA State Complaint Without an Attorney in Texas
Step-by-step guide to filing a free TEA state complaint for special education violations in Texas — no attorney required. Covers what to include, evidence, and timelines.
Blog
All articles about Texas IEP & 504 Advocacy Playbook.
School Not Following IEP in Texas? How to File a TEA Complaint
If a Texas school is ignoring an IEP or BIP, you can file a free complaint with the TEA. Learn the exact steps, what qualifies, and what TEA can order.
Texas Special Education Advocacy Toolkit vs. Hiring an Advocate for IEP Disputes
Comparing a Texas-specific advocacy toolkit against hiring a special education advocate for ARD disputes. Cost, coverage, and when each option makes sense.
Best Advocacy Tool for Texas Parents Whose School District Refuses IEP Services
Your Texas district isn't delivering IEP services. Here's the best advocacy tool for documenting violations, demanding compensatory services, and filing TEA complaints.
Alternatives to a Due Process Hearing in Texas Special Education Disputes
Due process hearings cost $10K-$50K and districts win 72% of them. Here are 4 alternatives Texas parents should try first — most resolve disputes faster and free.
How to Disagree at an ARD Meeting in Texas: The 10-Day Recess Rule
Texas's 10-day recess rule gives parents a legal right to pause an ARD meeting when they disagree. Learn how to invoke it, what happens next, and your options.
What Is an ARD Meeting in Texas? A Parent's Complete Guide
Learn what a Texas ARD meeting is, how it differs from an IEP team, who must attend, and how to prepare before your child's first ARD.
Best Resource for Texas Parents Pursuing 8.5% Cap Compensatory Services
If your child was denied special education during Texas's illegal 8.5% cap (2004-2017), here's the best resource for pursuing compensatory services from your district.
School Refusing to Evaluate Your Child in Texas? Here's What to Do
Texas schools cannot legally use RTI to delay special ed evaluations. Learn your Child Find rights, the RTI shield tactic, and how to force an evaluation.
Free Special Education Resources for Texas Parents: PRN, DRTx, SPEDTex, and ESCs
Texas parents have access to free special education support through PRN, Disability Rights Texas, SPEDTex, and regional ESCs. Here's what each offers and when to use them.
Extended School Year in Texas: How to Qualify and What to Expect
Texas ESY services require the ARD committee to evaluate regression and recoupment. Here's how eligibility works, what services look like, and how to fight a denial.
Surrogate Parents and Foster Care Special Education in Texas
Children in Texas foster care have the same special education rights as any student—but someone must advocate for them. Here's how surrogate parents and foster care intersect with IDEA in Texas.
Physical Restraint and Seclusion in Texas Special Education: Your Child's Rights
Texas has specific rules on when schools can physically restrain or seclude students with disabilities. Here's what the law says, what districts must report, and what parents can do.
Texas Special Education Evaluation Timeline: The 15-45-30 Rule Explained
Understand Texas's FIIE evaluation timeline: 15 days to consent, 45 school days to evaluate, 30 days to ARD. What each deadline means and how to enforce it.
Texas Special Education Funding and ESA Vouchers: What Parents Need to Know
Texas SB 2 creates ESA vouchers worth up to $30,000 for students with disabilities. But accepting them means waiving IDEA rights. Here's what the tradeoff actually means.
Texas Special Education Eligibility Categories: The 13 Disability Classifications Explained
Texas uses 13 IDEA disability categories to determine special education eligibility. Here's what each covers, what the evaluation process looks like, and common mistakes parents make.
How to Get Your Child's School Records in Texas — and Whether You Can Record an ARD Meeting
Texas parents have the right to access special education records and, in most cases, record ARD meetings. Here's how to do both correctly and what the law actually says.
Private School and Homeschool Special Education in Texas: What Rights Apply
Switching to private school or homeschool changes your child's special education rights in Texas. Here's what you keep, what you give up, and when the public school is still responsible.
Transferring Your Child's IEP When Moving to a New Texas School District
Moving between Texas districts or from out of state with an IEP? Here's what the receiving district must do, what rights you have, and how to protect your child's services during the transition.
Least Restrictive Environment in Texas Special Education: Placement Explained
What LRE means in Texas, how ARD committees decide between inclusion and self-contained classrooms, and how to fight a placement that doesn't serve your child.
Bilingual Special Education in Texas: Rights for Spanish-Speaking Families
Texas families with English language learners have special education rights that go beyond what most parents know. Here's how ARD and LPAC work together and where to get Spanish-language support.
HISD and AISD Special Education: What's Happening in Texas's Largest Districts
Houston ISD and Austin ISD have both made national news for special education failures. Here's what parents need to know about the crises in these two major Texas districts.
Texas 504 Plan Accommodations: What They Cover and What They Don't
What Section 504 accommodations actually look like in Texas schools, how they differ from IEP services, and when they're not enough to meet your child's needs.
19 TAC Chapter 89: Texas Special Education Law Parents Need to Know
19 TAC Chapter 89 is the Texas law governing special education. Learn what it requires, how it differs from federal IDEA, and which sections protect your rights.
Transition IEP Goals in Texas: Age 14 Requirements and What ARDs Get Wrong
Texas mandates transition IEP planning by age 14 — two years earlier than federal law. What transition goals must cover, what districts skip, and how to hold the ARD accountable.
Texas Special Education Attorney: What They Do, When You Need One, and What It Costs
Texas special education attorneys handle due process, IEE reimbursement, and systemic violations. Costs run $850/hr with $20K retainers. Here's when you actually need one.