Welcome to Uplift Education Special Populations!

We believe all children are entitled to an exemplar education consistent with their ability to learn.  Uplift Education offers several programs and related services for children who have learning differences.   We are a team of dedicated professionals who will work with you and your child to create a great educational experience.

We understand navigating through the world of special education and Section 504 can be overwhelming, but we are here to help you through it all. Uplift Education encourages parents to be actively involved in their child's education.  

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

What is Child Find?

Child Find is a continuous process of public awareness activities, screening and evaluation designed to locate, identify, and refer as early as possible all young children with disabilities and their families who are in need of Early Intervention Program (Part C) or Preschool Special Education (Part B/619) services of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

To receive Early Intervention Program or Special Education, children must meet eligibility guidelines according to the IDEA. States have different eligibility guidelines for their Early Intervention Program and Special Education services. In addition to children with disabilities, some states have elected to provide early intervention services for infants and toddlers who are at risk of developmental delay and their families.

Child Find Brochure- Spanish

Child Find Brochure- English

https://www.region10.org/programs/child-find/overview/

For those students who are having difficulty in the regular classroom, all school districts and open enrollment charter schools must consider tutorial, compensatory, and other academic or behavior support services that are available to all students, including a process based on Response to Intervention (RtI). The implementation of RtI has the potential to have a positive impact on the ability of districts and charter schools to meet the needs of all struggling students. 

If a student is experiencing learning difficulties, his or her parent may contact the individual(s) listed below to learn about the school’s overall general education referral or screening system for support services. This system links students to a variety of support options, including making a referral for a Special Education evaluation or for a Section 504 evaluation to determine if the student needs specific aids, accommodations, or services.  A parent may request an evaluation for Special Education or Section 504 services at any time.   

Special Education Referrals 

If a parent makes a written request for an initial evaluation for Special Education services to the Director of Special Education services or an administrative employee of the school district or open enrollment charter school, the district or charter school must respond no later than 15 school days after receiving the request. At that time, the district or charter school must give the parent a prior written notice of whether it agrees to or refuses to evaluate the student, along with a copy of the Notice of Procedural Safeguards.  If the school district or charter school agrees to evaluate the student, it must also give the parent the opportunity to give written consent for the evaluation.   

Please note that a request for a Special Education evaluation may be made verbally and does not need to be in writing.  Districts and charter schools must still comply with all federal prior written notice and procedural safeguard requirements and the requirements for identifying, locating, and evaluating children who are suspected of being a child with a disability and in need of special education. However, a verbal request does not require the district or charter school to respond within the 15-school-day timeline. 

If the district or charter school decides to evaluate the student, it must complete the student’s initial evaluation and evaluation report no later than 45 school days from the day it receives a parent’s written consent to evaluate the student.  However, if the student is absent from school during the evaluation period for three or more school days, the evaluation period will be extended by the number of school days equal to the number of school days that the student is absent.  

There is an exception to the 45-school-day timeline.  If a district or charter school receives a parent’s consent for the initial evaluation at least 35 but less than 45 school days before the last instructional day of the school year, it must complete the written report and provide a copy of the report to the parent by June 30 of that year. However, if the student is absent from school for three or more days during the evaluation period, the June 30th due date no longer applies. Instead, the general timeline of 45 school days plus extensions for absences of three or more days will apply. 

Upon completing the evaluation, the district or charter school must give the parent a copy of the evaluation report at no cost. 

Additional information regarding special education is available from the district or charter school in a companion document titled Parent’s Guide to the Admission, Review, and Dismissal Process.   

Contact Person for Special Education Referrals: 

The designated person to contact regarding options for a student experiencing learning difficulties or regarding a referral for evaluation for special education services is: 

Contact Person: Annette Enright, Senior Director of Special Populations  

Phone Number: (469) 621-8500 

Section 504 Referrals: 

Each school district or charter school must have standards and procedures in place for the evaluation and placement of students in the district’s or charter school’s Section 504 program. Districts and charter schools must also implement a system of procedural safeguards that includes notice, an opportunity for a parent or guardian to examine relevant records, an impartial hearing with an opportunity for participation by the parent or guardian and representation by counsel, and a review procedure. 

Contact Person for Section 504 Referrals: 

The designated person to contact regarding options for a student experiencing learning difficulties or regarding a referral for evaluation for Section 504 services is: 

Contact Person: Melissa Short, Director of Special Programs  

Phone Number: (469) 621-8500 

Additional Information: 

The following websites provide information and resources for students with disabilities and their families. 

• Legal Framework for the Child-Centered Special Education Process 
• Partners Resource Network 
• Special Education Information Center 
• Texas Project First 
• https://www.spedtex.org