The Texas Education Agency has rolled out Supplemental Special Education Services for students with autism

February 12, 2021

The Texas Education Agency has rolled out Supplemental Special Education Services (SSES) for students with autism and other disabilities. The SSES program provides eligible parents/caregivers with access to funds that can be used to address the impact of COVID-19 school closures.

What are Supplemental Special Education Services (SSES)?

Up to $1,500 in an online account for certain students enrolled in a Texas public school for 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 and who have IEPs. The funds can be used by parents/caregivers to purchase certain educational resources and supplies and/or services, such as additional speech therapy or other specific supports. The purpose of SSES is to help address COVID-19’s impact on students.

Is eligibility income based?

Eligibility for these services is not income based. However, the application includes submitting 2019 tax information.

How is student eligibility determined?

For Grades 3-12, all students who are eligible for STAAR ALT II qualify.

For Grades K-2: students with one of three special education eligibility categorizations qualify

  1. students with the “Multiple Disabilities” designation, OR
  2. students whose Primary Disability is Deaf/Blind, OR
  3. students with a combination of certain Primary Disability categories and educational settings (see chart below).

 

Your child MAY qualify with one of these primary disabilities:

Your child MAY qualify if they are served in one of the following educational settings:
  • Auditory Impairment
  • Autism
  • Intellectual Disability
  • Orthopedic Impairment
  • Other Health Impairment
  • Speech Impairment
  • Traumatic Brain Injury
  • Visual Impairment

 

 
  • Attending home campus in a resource classroom.
  • Attending home campus but receiving specialized programming off campus.
  • In a Self-Contained Classroom for more than 50% of their day.
  • In a Specialized Program for more than 50% of their day but not attending their home campus.
  • Attending a Residential Treatment Facility.
  • Attending Texas School for the Blind.
  • Attending Texas School for the Deaf.
  • Attending a Day Treatment Facility.
  • Homebound instruction (teacher comes to student for one-on-one instruction)

Where do I find more information and apply for these services?

Learn more about these services and/or apply here.

Applications will not be accepted after June 30, 2021.

If you have questions, go to the chat feature on the SpedTex website or the SpedTex Facebook. If you have applied and want to follow up on the decision that you received, please contact TEA at ssesinfo@tea.texas.gov or call SPEDTex at 1-855-773-3839.