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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.
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Texas School Voucher & Education Savings Account Update (Nov. 2, 2025): What Private Schools and Education Service Providers Need to Know
An essential update for private schools and educational service providers on the Texas Education Freedom Accounts program: learn the vendor eligibility criteria, school participation steps, compliance timing, and how to prepare as of Nov 2, 2025.
Nov 2, 20254 min read


Texas School Voucher & Education Savings Account Update (Nov. 2, 2025)
Stay up to date on the Texas school voucher and education savings account (ESA) rollout: the latest timeline, key application dates, eligibility milestones, and how the Texas Education Freedom Accounts program is tracking as of Nov 2, 2025.
Nov 2, 20252 min read


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.
Oct 25, 202511 min read


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.
Oct 25, 202510 min read


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.
Oct 25, 202510 min read


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.
Oct 25, 202510 min read


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.
Oct 25, 20258 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.
Oct 25, 20258 min read


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.
Oct 24, 20258 min read


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.
Oct 24, 20258 min read


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.
Oct 24, 20257 min read


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.
Oct 24, 20256 min read


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.
Oct 24, 20254 min read


The Texas Difference: Why Your State Has Unique SLD Requirements (and What the Dyslexia Handbook Really Is)
Texas adds unique layers to federal IDEA rules for identifying Specific Learning Disabilities—especially dyslexia. This post explains why Texas requires specialized dyslexia expertise on evaluation teams, mandatory early screening, and detailed procedures outlined in the Texas Dyslexia Handbook. Learn how these state-specific rules ensure students receive evidence-based instruction and full special education protections.
Oct 18, 20258 min read


When It's NOT an SLD: Understanding Exclusionary and Determinant Factors
When is a learning challenge not a Specific Learning Disability (SLD)? This post explains the crucial “exclusionary” and “determinant” factors under IDEA and Texas law—such as vision, hearing, environment, and instruction—that evaluation teams must rule out before identifying an SLD. Understanding these safeguards ensures accurate diagnoses and that students receive the right supports for their true learning needs.
Oct 17, 20255 min read


The Data Behind the Diagnosis: What Evidence Is Required for SLD Identification
Behind every accurate Special Learning Disability (SLD) identification is a team of educators and specialists analyzing data to understand how a student learns. This post explains the importance of documentation, collaboration, and data review in the SLD evaluation process under IDEA and Texas law—helping ensure students receive the right support and services to meet their individual learning needs.
Oct 16, 20255 min read


Two Pathways to Identification: RTI vs. Pattern of Strengths and Weaknesses
Identifying a Specific Learning Disability (SLD) involves more than test scores—it’s a data-driven process that looks at how a student learns and responds to instruction. This post explains how schools use models like Response to Intervention (RTI) and Patterns of Strengths and Weaknesses (PSW) to determine eligibility under IDEA and Texas law, ensuring students receive the right support to meet their unique learning needs.
Oct 15, 20255 min read


Texas Voucher Application Timeline Revealed: February 2026 Launch Confirmed
Houston Chronicle reporting confirms the key 2026 dates for Texas Education Freedom Accounts. Provider applications open Dec 2, family applications run Feb 4–Mar 20, voucher decisions are set for May 1, and funds will be available July 1. Families should start researching schools now and plan for timing challenges, as private school admissions may require commitments before voucher decisions are finalized.
Oct 14, 20253 min read


Understanding Specific Learning Disabilities: What SLD Really Means
Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD) like dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia affect how the brain processes language, reading, writing, and math—but not intelligence or effort. This post breaks down what SLD really means under IDEA and Texas law, which conditions are included, and why clear identification matters. Understanding these differences is the first step toward effective advocacy and support for your child’s learning needs.
Oct 14, 20253 min read


Is it Just a Struggle, or a Learning Disability?
It’s parent-teacher conference season—and for many families, those meetings raise big questions. Is your child just struggling, or could it be a learning disability like dyslexia or dysgraphia? This post explains how schools identify Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD), what “evaluation” and “intervention” really mean, and how parents in Texas can advocate for accurate identification and support.
Oct 13, 20253 min read
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