Texas Commission on Special Education Funding

House Bill 1525, 87th Texas Legislature, established the Texas Commission on Special Education Funding to develop and make recommendations of financing special education in public schools. 

The commission shall develop recommendations to address issues related to special education funding.

The commission may establish one or more working groups composed of not more than three members of the commission to study, discuss, and address specific policy issues and recommendations to refer to the commission for consideration.

Not later than December 31, 2022, the commission shall prepare and deliver a report to the governor and the legislature that recommends statutory changes to improve funding for special education.

Commission Meetings

Watch live stream and recorded meetings

Friday December 16, 2022 2:00 pm - Meeting 8

 Texas State Capitol Room E1.012

• December 16, 2022 Meeting Agenda

Commission Final Report - Texas Commission on Special Education Funding 12.31.22

Monday November 14, 2022 1:30 pm - Meeting 7

Texas State Capitol Room E1.012

• November 14, 2022 Meeting Agenda

Presentations

• Justin Porter, Associate Commissioner and Chief Program Officer, Special Populations, Texas Education Agency, Draft Recommendations for Consideration 
• Steve Aleman, MPAff, J.D., Senior Policy Specialist, Disability Rights Texas (DRT), Education Savings Accounts (ESA)
• Jolene Sanders-Foster, MS, Advocacy Director, Coalition of Texans with Disabilities (CTD), Coalition of Texans with Disabilities (CTD)
• Ezzard Castillo, Administrator, River City Christian School, River City Christian School San Antonio TX
• Benjamin Scafidi, Ph.D. Friedman Fellow (EdChoice), Professor of Economics and Director, Education Economics Center, Kennesaw State University, Special Education ESAs
• Michael Barba, Policy Director, K-12 Education, Texas Public Policy Foundation, Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF)

Slides

• Prof. Kevin G. Welner, Director, National Education Policy Center, Professor, School of Education , University of Colorado Boulder Voucher slide 1 and Voucher slide 2 
• Cara Candal, Policy Managing Director for ExcelinEd, ExcelinEd slide

Friday September 9, 2022 10:00 am - Meeting 6

Texas State Capitol Room E1.028

• September 9, 2022 Meeting Agenda 

Presentations

• Laura Cazabon-Braly, Associate Commissioner for State Supported Living Centers, Texas Health and Human Services Commission - SSLC Presentation to TCSEF
• Rebecca Japko, President, Parents and Allies for Remarkable Texans (PART) - PART presentation for SPED Funding
• Erin Tyler, Director of School Partnerships, Special Education Services Inc (SESI) - TX Commission on SPED Funding Hearing SESI
• Amanda Coffey, PhD, BCBA-D, LBA, Executive Director/CEO, Behavior Network - Behavior Network SPED Funding Hearing 

Handout

• Brenham State Supported Living Center (BSSLC) - BSSLC Flyer 

Wednesday August 10, 2022 10:00 am - Meeting 5 

Texas State Capitol Room E1.012

• August 10, 2022 Meeting Agenda

Presentations

• Lindsay Rodgers, Associate Commissioner for Health and Developmental Services, Texas Health and Human Services Commission - ECI Presentation for SPED Funding Commission 
• Stephanie Wright, Special Education Department Chair and Life Skills Teacher, Eanes ISD - Eanes ISD SPED Funding Recommendations 
• Steven Aleman, Senior Policy Analyst, Disability Rights Texas, and Kristin McGuire, Director of Governmental Relations, Texas Council of Administrators of Special Education - DRTX and TCASE SPED Funding Commission Recommendations 
• Texas Special Education Funding Commission - Working Group Draft Proposal 

Monday June 27, 2022  9:00 am - Meeting 4

Texas State Capitol Room E1.014

• June 27, 2022 Meeting Agenda

Presentations

• Claire Bugen, Superintendent, and Justin Wedel, CFO, Texas School for the Deaf - TSD Special Education Funding
• Dr. Marina McCormick, Region 4 RDSPD Coordinator, ESC Region 4 Regional Day School Program for the Deaf - Region 4 RDSPD Funding
• Ms. Debbie Martin, Plano RDSPD Coordinator, Plano ISD Regional Day School Program for the Deaf - Plano ISD RDSPD Funding
• Marti Boone, Executive Director, Be An Angel Fund, Inc. and Dan Pastorini, President and CEO – Dan Pastorini Quality Foods, Chairman – Be An Angel Fund, Inc. - Be An Angel Funding

Handouts

• Be An Angel Handout - BAA Special Education
• Texas Association of Community Schools - TACS Special Education
• Texas Association of Rural Schools, Texas Association of Mid-Size Schools - TARS & TAMS Special Education
• Texas Association of School Boards - TASB Special Education 

Monday May 23, 2022 10:00 am - Meeting 3

Texas State Capitol Room E1.010

Secretary of State

• May 23, 2022 Meeting Agenda

Presentations 

• TEA - Special Education Legislation
• Florida Department of Education - Florida’s E.S.E Funding Model: Matrix of Service
• Paula Nelson, Ed.S & Ron Matus, Step Up For Students - Educational Savings Accounts for Students with Unique Abilities
• Sara Doutre, Project Director, WestEd & Tye Ripma, Senior Associate, WestEd - State Models For Funding Special Education

Monday April 25, 2022 10:00 am - Meeting 2

Texas State Capitol Room E1.010 

Secretary of State

• April 25, 2022 Meeting Agenda 

Presentations - Texas CFOs     

• Pam Sancez, Assistant Superintendent of Business Services, Lake Travis ISD - Special Services Lake Travis ISD
• Christopher J. Smith, Chief Financial Officer, Katy ISD - Commission on Special Ed Funding Katy ISD   
• Johnny W. Hill, CPA, RTSBA, Chief Financial Officer, Plano ISD - Special Education Funding Analysis Plano ISD
• Flor Ayala, CPA, Assistant Superintendent for Finance, Business Services, and Accountability, Laredo ISD - Special Education Program Revenue Costs Laredo ISD
• Jeffri Orosco, RTSBA, Chief Financial Officer, Elgin ISD - Special Education Funding Elgin ISD

Presentations - Texas District SPED Directors

• Thelissa Edwards Ed.D., LSSP, Executive Director of Special Education, Spring ISD - Special Education Funding Spring ISD
• Amanda Sanchez-Muñoz, Special Education Director, San Elizario ISD - Special Education Funding San Elizario ISD

Presentations

• Kristin McGuire, Director of Governmental Relations Texas Council - 2020 Special Education Allotment Advisory Committee Report
• Ed O’Neill, Executive Director, Special Populations General Supervision and Monitoring, TEA - Non-Public Residential Funds and High-Cost Funds

Thursday March 17, 2022 10:00 am - Meeting 1

Texas State Capitol Room E2.010

• March 17, 2022 Meeting Agenda

• Mike Morath, TEA Commissioner, and Leo Lopez, Associate Commissioner for School Finance, and James Connolly, Senior Director of Federal Fiscal Compliance - Special Education Trends