CISD Department of Special Programs

Use these Quick Links to find an area of interest:
Disabilities
Download Operating Guidelines for Special Education Services
The Pre-referral & Referral Program
Parent & Community Involvement
Instructional Services
     Content Mastery
     Early Childhood (Preschool) Setting
     Educational Assistant
     Extended School Year
     Extracurricular Activity
     General Education
     Homebound Instruction
     Related Services
     Resource Classes
     Self-Contained Classes
     Speech Therapy
     Vocational Classes
     Other

Disabilities
The Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) lists and defines thirteen disabilities. They are: autism, deaf-blindness, auditory impairment, emotional disturbance, mental retardation, multiple disabilities, orthopedic impairment, other health impairment, learning disability, speech impairment, traumatic brain injury, visual impairment, or noncategorical early childhood.

Operating Guidelines for Special Education Services To download the following files, you will need a Free copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader.
To download complete Table of Contents, Click Here. The following represents a condensed version of the Table of Contents.

To Download Section 1, Click Here. Section 1 includes the following:
	REFERRAL PROCESS
		Initial Referrals to Special Education Transfer Students Referrals for Specific Areas

To Download Section 2, Click Here. Section 2 includes the following:
	FULL AND INDIVIDUAL EVALUATION (FIE)
		Initial Full and Individual Evaluation Determination of Needed Evaluation Data (Review Existing Evaluation Data Time Line Purpose Documentation (Written Report and Related Service Report Observation Evaluation of Physical, Mental & Emotional Conditions Evaluation of Learning Competencies (Academic Performance) Assistive Technology Devices & Services Evaluation Procedures Evaluation Requirements for Specific Eligibility Determination of Eligibility Procedures for Determining Eligibility & Placement Special Provisions Re-evaluation Appraisal Personnel

To Download Section 3, Click Here. Section 3 includes the following:
	DISABILITY CRITERIA
		Regulations Autism Deaf-Blindness Auditory Impairment Mental Retardation Multiple Disabilities Physical Disability (Orthopedic Impairment) Other Health Impairment Emotional Disturbance Learning Disability Speech Impairment Traumatic Brain Injury Visual Impairment Non-categorical Early Childhood

To Download Section 4a, Click Here. Section 4a includes the following:
	ADMISSIONS, REVIEW, AND DISMISSAL (ARD), INDIVIDUAL EDUCATION PROGRAM (IEP) & RELATED SERVICES
		ARD/IEP Committee Required ARD/IEP Meetings Timeline ARD/IEP Report Parent Participation ARD/IEP Committee Membership Scheduling the ARD/IEP Meeting ARD/IEP Committee Decisions Transfers - Students New to District Mutual Agreement/10 Day Recess General Education Personnel - ARD/IEP Process Private/Nonpublic School Provisions Other Considerations by the ARD/IEP Committee Dismissal/Change in Placement

To Download Section 4b, Click Here. Section 4b includes the following:
	INDIVIDUAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT (IEP)
		Content of the IEP IEP Development (Teacher Responsibility) Changes in the IEP IEP Annual Review Extended School Year Service (ESY) Graduation

To Download Section 4c, Click Here. Section 4c includes the following:
	RELATED SERVICES
		Request for Related Services Related Services Categories

To Download Section 5, Click Here. Section 5 includes the following:
	INSTRUCTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS
		Instructional Arrangements & Settings Instructional Programs/Service Delivery Contracting for Educational Placement

To Download Section 6, Click Here. Section 6 includes the following:
	DISCIPLINE FOR STUDENTS UNDER IDEA
		Procedural Safeguards Removals Totaling 10 School Days Removals for Drugs or Weapons Placement During Appeals Relating to Removals for Drugs/Weapons Use of Confinement, Restraint, Seclusion & Time-Out Procedures for Use of Restraint and Time-Out Time-Out Guidelines TEC §37.004 Placement of Students with Disabilities TEC §89.1050 Discretionary Placements if JJAEP TEC §37.006 Removal for Certain Conduct TEC §37.007 Expulsion for Serious Offenses 34 CFR §300.527 Protection for Students not yet Eligible for Special Education

To Download Section 7, Click Here. Section 7 includes the following:
	PROCEDURAL SAFEGUARDS
		Notice Consent Parent Participation in Meetings Complaint Procedures Mediation 709 Due Process Hearing Confidentiality Records Surrogate/Foster Parent Compliance Monitoring Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) Hearing Concerning Students with Disabilities Student Status During Proceedings

To Download Section 8, Click Here. Section 8 includes the following:
	ADMINISTRATION
		Scope and Applicability of Special Education Child Find OSEP - Office of Special Education (CAP) Special Education Defined Personnel Curriculum for Students with Disabilities Student Education Management System (SEMS) Over-representation: Identification/LRE District Effectiveness and Compliance (DEC) TAKS, SDAA, and EDAA Collaboration with Agencies Regarding Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) Transfer of Assistive Technology Devices Funding Interventions and Sanctions

The Pre-referral and Referral Processes
A student may be referred for a Full Individual Evaluation (FIE) by the Student Assistance Team (SAT) of his or her campus. Teachers, parents, or other professionals can refer a student by contacting the counselor of the student's home campus. At the time of a referral the campus counselor will review with parents their parental rights and the procedural safeguards provided by IDEA.

At the completion of the FIE, and Individual Education Program (IEP) meeting will be convened with parents in attendance. A student is determined eligible or not eligible for special education as a student with a disability at the IEP meeting. If eligible, the IEP team members determine the student's individual needs and develop an Individual Education Program for the student. The IEP will address those services the student will receive and how the services will be implemented.

Parent & Community Involvement
In Carroll Independent School District, parent and community involvement are believed to be essential to a quality education. When parents participate as volunteers, as co-implementers of their child's specific educational goals, and as a committee and/or PTO members, they become partners in the planning and teaching of their child.

It is important that when visiting and/or volunteering in schools and classrooms that parents/volunteers remember to sign-in at the school office. Parents/volunteers are also asked to remember that the mission of the classroom teacher is directed toward the lesson being provided for the students and the teacher should not be interrupted. Questions should be saved for parent/teacher conferences. CISD also places high value on confidentiality and reminds parents and volunteers that information about students must not be repeated.

Instructional Services
In CISD, each student with a disability has an Individual Education Plan that has been developed to meet his/her educational needs. CISD provides a variety of instructional settings and services. They include, but are not limited to the following:

Content Mastery
Eligible students who receive instruction in the general education curriculum may access the services of a special education teacher for support. These students leave the general education classroom and report to the special education classroom for assistance.

Early Childhood (Preschool) Setting
Students ages 0 to 3 with a disability may be eligible to receive services through the Early Childhood Intervention of Tarrant County (ECI). Prior to turning three, a transition between ECI and CISD will occur to determine if the student continues to be eligible for and receive services. Some students ages 3 to 5 may be eligible for Early Childhood Special Education services on a CISD campus.

Educational Assistant
Paraprofessional staff work within the special education and general education classrooms to provide assistance to students and teachers. The amount of individual assistance a student may receive is determined at an IEP meeting and is reflected in the IEP.

Extended School Year
Eligible students may receive special education services during extended school breaks.

Extracurricular Activities
Each CISD campus sponsors some before and/or after school activities. All eligible students may participate. If a parent has questions about an activity or wants to determine the appropriateness of the activity for his or her child, the parent should contact the campus sponsoring the activity. CISD does not exclude students from participation based on a disability.

General Education
Most students with disabilities receive instruction in the general education classroom. Teachers follow the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) curriculum for the grade level or content area. Eligible students are monitored by special education staff. The general education teacher may provide modifications to the TEKS if it is indicated in the student's IEP.

Homebound Instruction
Students who, based on the determination of a medical doctor, will be out of school for a minimum of 4 weeks may be eligible for instruction in a hospital/home setting.

Related Services
In order for some students with disabilities to make adequate progress in their educational program, they require additional services in the school environment. Examples of such services are occupational therapy, physical therapy, transportation, and health services.

Resource Classes
Special education instruction for less than 50% of the school day.

Self-Contained Classes
Special education instruction for 50% or more of the school.

Speech Therapy
Eligible students are served during the school day by a speech/language pathologist.

Vocational Classes
Eligible students who are at least 16 years old may attend Vocational Adjustment Class (VAC) and receive High School credits. Obtaining and maintaining a job and receiving a salary are part of VAC.

Other
Other special education instructional settings are available outside of CISD. These may include, but are not limited to, placement in a residential facility, Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Program, the Birdville Program for the Deaf, or the Texas School of the Blind.

Special Note:
We apologize for the use of the many acronyms and "educational jargon" on this page. We hope acronyms are defined when they were first used in the text. However, if you have any questions, or need further information, please go to the Contact Us page and find the appropriate person(s) who can assist you.