Admission, Review and Dismissal (ARD) and IEP Committee meeting advocacy resources for parents and educators.

Field Notes

Real-world and honest perspectives on parenting, K-12 education, access, and advocacy.

Blending personal insight, professional experience, and curated information from across the education world, Field Notes explores everything from policy shifts and evaluation practices to the realities of raising and educating children with disabilities. This space exists to inform, support, and spark meaningful conversation, without the noise.

Illustration of a parent preparing for an ARD meeting, reviewing IEP and progress documents at a table with organized binders and checklists, symbolizing preparation, confidence, and collaboration in Texas special education advocacy.

Putting It All Together - Preparing for Your ARD Meeting

Confidently prepare for your next ARD meeting with a clear checklist and practical tips. Learn how to use TEA resources and collaborate effectively with your child’s team.

ARD Meetings

Oct 2511 min read

Illustration of an ARD committee meeting discussing student discipline, with a balance scale symbolizing fairness between school rules and disability protections in Texas special education, representing manifestation determination and continued educational services.

Special Circumstances - Discipline and ARD Meetings

Disciplinary actions can trigger ARD meetings to ensure a student’s disability is considered. Learn how MDRs, FBAs, and BIPs safeguard educational placement.

ARD Meetings

Oct 2510 min read

Illustration of an ARD committee meeting in progress, showing parents and educators collaborating around a table to make IEP decisions, symbolizing consensus, disagreement, and teamwork in Texas special education.

Making Decisions - Consensus, Disagreement, and What Comes Next

ARD committees make decisions by consensus. Learn what happens when disagreements arise and how parents can use reconvene meetings or formal dispute resolution.

ARD Meetings

Oct 2510 min read

Illustration of a diverse parent speaking at an ARD meeting with an interpreter present, symbolizing participation and accessibility rights in Texas special education.

Your Rights at the ARD Table

Parents are vital members of every ARD committee. Learn about your rights to participate, receive information in your language, and access your child’s records.

ARD Meetings

Oct 2510 min read

Illustration of a parent reading a Prior Written Notice document with a teacher explaining, representing transparency and procedural protection in Texas ARD processes.

Prior Written Notice - Your Documentation Protection

Prior Written Notice gives you written documentation before any changes in your child’s special education program—protecting your right to understand and respond.

ARD Meetings

Oct 258 min read

Critical Timelines Every Parent Should Know

From evaluation to IEP review, each Texas special education step has strict timelines. Learn the 15, 30, and 45-day rules and why staying on schedule protects your child’s rights.

ARD Meetings

Oct 258 min read

Illustration of diverse ARD committee members collaborating around a table, representing Texas ARD meeting purpose and teamwork for student success.

ARD Meetings 101 - Purpose and Core Principles

ARD meetings are where decisions about your child’s special education IEP happen. Learn who attends, what FAPE means, and how ARDs ensure individualized, appropriate support.

ARD Meetings

Oct 248 min read

Illustration of educators reviewing the Texas Special Education Rules and Regulations binder, emphasizing compliance, timelines, and student protections under IDEA and state law.

The Rules That Govern - Special Education Rules and Regulations

The Special Education Rules and Regulations define how Texas schools meet legal timelines and compliance rules—protecting your child’s rights and ensuring schools follow IDEA and state law.

ARD Meetings

Oct 248 min read

Illustration of parents and educators navigating a simplified path from evaluation to IEP to services, representing the Texas special education process leading to ARD meetings.

Understanding the Process - Parent’s Guide to the Admission, Review, and Dismissal Process

The Parent’s Guide to the Admission, Review, and Dismissal Process or "ARD Guide" from TEA helps parents understand the special education journey—from evaluation to services—and prepares you to participate confidently in your child’s ARD meeting.

ARD Meetings

Oct 247 min read

Illustration of a parent receiving the Notice of Procedural Safeguards from a school administrator, representing parental rights and transparency in Texas ARD meetings.

Know Your Rights - The Notice of Procedural Safeguards

The Notice of Procedural Safeguards outlines your legal rights in special education—from consent to dispute resolution. Learn when you receive it, what it protects, and how it connects to ARD meetings.

ARD Meetings

Oct 246 min read

Illustration of diverse parents and educators reviewing Texas TEA special education documents—Procedural Safeguards, ARD Guide for Parents, and Special Education Rules and Regulations—symbolizing collaboration in ARD meetings.

Navigating Texas Special Education: Your Essential Guide to ARD Meetings

Start your Texas special education journey with the essential documents every parent should know. Learn how the Notice of Procedural Safeguards, Parent's Guide to the ARD Process, and the Special Education Rules and Regulations form your foundation for successful ARD meetings.

ARD Meetings

Oct 244 min read