Topic Guides Library

Getting Started with Special Education in Texas

If you’re just beginning to suspect your child may need extra support, these guides walk through eligibility,
basic legal foundations, and how the special education process is supposed to work.

What Qualifies a Child for Special Education? A Texas Parent’s Guide
A step-by-step look at who qualifies under IDEA and Texas law, what “child find” means, and how schools should identify students who need services.

The Pathway to Special Education: Referral Process Explained
Explains how to request an evaluation, timelines, and what to expect once you put your request in writing.

What Is the Special Education ARD Process?
Breaks down Texas ARD (IEP) committee meetings, who should be there, and what the team is supposed to decide.

What Is PL 94-142 and Why Is It Important in Special Education?
Covers the history behind IDEA and why federal law requires schools to provide a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE).

Evaluations & Testing

Evaluation is the gateway to services. These resources explain how to request testing, what the school must do,
and what to look for in your child’s evaluation.

Special Education Evaluations and Testing
A detailed Texas-specific guide to requesting evaluations, timelines, and what happens if the school says “no.”

Special Education Records Requests
Explains your right to review your child’s records, what counts as an “education record,” and how to request documents before ARD/IEP meetings.

IEPs, ARDs & Parent Rights

Once your child is found eligible, the IEP/ARD process drives everything. These guides help you understand
your rights and how to participate as an equal member of the team.

Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) in Texas
A comprehensive walkthrough of what must be in an IEP, FAPE and LRE, and what to do if your child is not making progress.

What Rights Do I Have Concerning My Child’s IEP?
Plain-English summary of core parent rights, including evaluation, participation in ARDs, and your options when you disagree with the school.

When Should I Request an IEP Team Meeting?
Practical guidance on when to call a meeting, how often you can ask, and how to frame your concerns.

Your Child’s IEP and the US Department of Education
Connects federal guidance to what you should be seeing in your child’s Texas IEP, including expectations for meaningful progress.

Section 504 Plans & Accommodations

Not every child needs “special education,” but many need accommodations. These guides explain when a 504 plan is appropriate
and how it differs from an IEP.

IEP vs. 504 Plan: Understanding the Difference for Your Child
Compares eligibility, services, and legal protections under IDEA versus Section 504 so you can tell which is (and isn’t) enough.

How to Get a 504 Plan for Your Child in 2024: Step-by-Step Guide
Walks you through requesting a 504 plan, what documentation schools look for, and how to push back if the campus resists.

Section 504 & 504 Plans
Overview of Section 504 protections in Texas, including common accommodations and how 504 interacts with discipline and bullying issues.

Discipline, Bullying & School Safety

Many families first call us when things have already gone wrong—suspensions, DAEP placements, or unsafe school environments.
These guides explain the rules that apply when your child has a disability.

Special Education Behavior & Discipline
Explains removals, DAEP placements, Manifestation Determinations, and what schools must do when behavior is related to disability.

Bullying & Unsafe School Situations
Covers Texas bullying laws (including David’s Law), how bullying intersects with FAPE, and how to use the IEP or 504 plan to increase safety.

Planning for Adulthood & Life After High School

Transition planning, guardianship questions, and future financial security can feel overwhelming. These guides are a starting point for families thinking beyond graduation.

Navigating the Future: Special Needs Transition Planning
Explains transition planning under IDEA, how to use the IEP to prepare for college, work, and independent living, and why starting early matters.

How Does Having an Adult Child with Special Needs Affect Estate Planning?
Overview of estate-planning tools for families with an adult child with disabilities, including how poor planning can accidentally cut off benefits.

What Are the Signs That an Adult Might Need a Guardian?
Practical warning signs and a high-level explanation of how Texas courts look at adult guardianship.

What Is a Special Needs Trust?
Introductory guide to special needs trusts, why they matter for SSI/Medicaid eligibility, and the difference between first-party and third-party trusts.

Texas ABLE Accounts
Explains how ABLE accounts work in Texas and how they fit alongside trusts and other planning tools.

Special Needs Trusts Lawyers in Texas
A deeper dive into trust-based planning and how legal counsel can help protect both benefits and quality of life.

How to Use These Guides (and When to Get Help)

You can work through these guides in any order. Many families start with eligibility and evaluation, then move into IEPs, discipline, or transition planning as new issues come up.

Reading on your own is a good first step, but you do not have to figure this out alone. If you reach a point where the school is not listening, deadlines are being ignored, or your child’s placement or safety is at risk, it may be time to talk with an attorney.

To see whether we can help in your specific situation, you can call us at (832) 422-7333 for a free discovery call. Or, schedule through the online calendar. You can also learn more about our process here.