Texas Special Education Evaluations for Private & Homeschool Students: Child Find, FIIE, IEPs and TEFA Explained
- Accessible Education
- 3 hours ago
- 12 min read
If you're a private or homeschool parent considering the TEFA program, you may have heard about the Disability Certification Form as one way to demonstrate your child's eligibility for priority admission only. What’s often overlooked is that this form is just one of four allowable options, and that additional TEFA disability funding is based on a Full Individual and Initial Evaluation (FIIE) and an IEP completed by a public school district. Families also have a long-standing legal right to request this evaluation from their local district, regardless of TEFA participation.
Many families are surprised to learn that private and homeschool children have legal access to the same comprehensive evaluations that public school students receive, at no cost to parents. This right exists independently of TEFA and has been in place for years under federal and state Child Find requirements. Whether or not you're pursuing TEFA funding, understanding this evaluation process can be valuable for any family that suspects their child may have a qualifying disability.
Table of Contents
Your Child's Legal Right to a Special Education Evaluation Under Child Find
How Special Education Evaluations Connect to the TEFA Program
Requesting a Full Individual and Initial Evaluation (FIIE) in Texas
Texas Initial Special Education Evaluation Timelines: What to Expect
Why Some Private and Homeschool Families Choose a School District Evaluation
FAQs on TEFA, Private School, and Homeschool Special Education Evaluations
Special Education and TEFA Support for Private and Homeschool Families
Your Child's Legal Right to a Special Education Evaluation Under Child Find
What Is Child Find in Texas?
Under federal and state law, every school district has a Child Find Duty. This means districts are legally required to actively identify, locate, and evaluate all children with disabilities within their geographic boundaries—not just those enrolled in public schools.
Does Child Find Apply to Private and Homeschool Students?
Yes. And this is not a courtesy; it is a legal obligation that existed long before the passage of SB2 and the implementation of the TEFA program.
For private and homeschool families, this translates into clear, enforceable rights. If you suspect your child has a disability that affects their education, you may request a Full Individual and Initial Evaluation (FIIE) from your local public school district at any time. Once you submit a written request, the district must respond within 15 school days.
How Special Education Evaluations Connect to the TEFA Program
Is an FIIE Required for TEFA Eligibility?
No. An FIIE is not required to apply for or participate in TEFA. Any eligible student may apply for TEFA, whether or not they have a disability.
However, an FIIE is required if:
Your child has, or you suspect they may have, a disability that qualifies for special education, and
You want to access additional TEFA disability funding beyond the base TEFA amount.
Only students who have:
Completed a district-conducted FIIE, and
Been determined eligible for special education services through an IEP
are eligible to receive additional TEFA disability funding.
The TEFA Disability Certification Form Explained
As discussed in previous posts, the TEFA Disability Certification Form serves a single, narrow purpose: priority admission in the 26-27 application cycle if there are more applicants than available seats. It does not establish special education eligibility, create an IEP, determine funding amounts, or replace a district evaluation.
Requesting a Full Individual and Initial Evaluation (FIIE) in Texas
We've covered the Child Find, FIIE, and ARD/IEP processes in depth in previous articles, so we won't repeat every detail here. Instead, here's what's most important to understand.
An FIIE determines whether your child meets the disability criteria for one of the 13 IDEA eligibility categories. However, meeting disability criteria alone is not enough to qualify for special education services.
If the FIIE identifies a qualifying disability, the ARD committee (called the IEP team in other states) meets to make a second, critical determination: whether your child requires specially designed instruction through an Individualized Education Program (IEP).
This two-step process is essential to understand:
A disability alone does not guarantee eligibility
The FIIE is the starting point, not the final decision
Texas Initial Special Education Evaluation Timelines: What to Expect
While the special education evaluation process includes detailed legal requirements, the timeline below provides a simplified overview of what private and homeschool families can expect when requesting an initial evaluation in Texas.
Initial Request
You submit a written request for a special education evaluation to your local school district. The district has 15 school days to respond in writing. They must either:
Propose to evaluate your child and request your written consent, or
Provide a Prior Written Notice (PWN) explaining why they are declining to evaluate.
Evaluation Phase
Once you provide written consent, the district has 45 school days to complete the Full Individual and Initial Evaluation (FIIE) and provide you with a written evaluation report.
ARD Meeting
Within 30 calendar days of completing the evaluation, the district must convene an Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) committee meeting. During this meeting, the committee determines:
Whether your child is eligible for special education services, and
If eligible, what services would be provided through an Individualized Education Program (IEP).
These timelines are not suggestions; they are legal requirements. Successfully navigating the process requires understanding not only when each step must occur, but also what should be happening at each stage, what documentation you are entitled to receive, and how to ensure the evaluation is comprehensive and appropriate for your child's needs.
Why Some Private and Homeschool Families Choose a School District Evaluation
Before discussing the potential benefits of a school district evaluation, it's important to clarify when requesting an evaluation is appropriate.
Private and home school families should request a Full Individual and Initial Evaluation (FIIE) only if their child has a diagnosed disability, or if a parent or teacher has a genuine, well-founded suspicion that the child may have a disability requiring special education services. An FIIE is not intended as a general check-in or a way to "see where your child is," and families should be thoughtful about using a process that relies on limited public resources.
It's also important to understand that special education eligibility is not automatic. Many students with diagnoses such as autism, dyslexia, ADHD, or physical disabilities do not qualify under IDEA because they do not require specially designed instruction. The evaluation process is rigorous by design. While suspicion alone is sufficient to request an evaluation, families whose concerns arise only after learning about potential funding will likely find that the process does not lead to eligibility.
With that context in mind, beyond the possibility of accessing additional TEFA disability funding, there are several reasons some families choose to pursue a district evaluation.
Free, Comprehensive Evaluations Through the School District
District evaluations are thorough, multi-disciplinary assessments conducted by licensed professionals, including educational diagnosticians, school psychologists, speech-language pathologists, and others, all at no cost to parents.
IEPs for Private and Homeschool Students: What They Are (and Aren't)
If your child is found eligible for special education services at the initial ARD meeting, the district must develop an Individualized Education Program (IEP). This document outlines the services the district would provide if your child were enrolled in public school.
For TEFA purposes, this IEP is also the document the state uses to determine eligibility for additional disability-based funding. Based on guidance from the Comptroller's Office, this additional funding is intended to mirror what a school district would receive to provide the services outlined in the IEP, up to a maximum of $30,000 per year, depending on the services and supports identified.
Using an IEP for Future Planning, College, and Accommodations
An IEP is a legally binding document that can be valuable for planning beyond K–12 education. It may support future transition planning, postsecondary accommodations, and other long-term educational needs.
Does Getting an Evaluation Force Public School Enrollment?
No. You maintain full control over your child's educational placement. Requesting a special education evaluation and even having an IEP developed does not require your child to attend public school or change your private or homeschool arrangements.
That said, if you request an evaluation through your local school district, you will likely be asked to "enroll" your child in the district's Student Information System (such as Skyward, Frontline, or PowerSchool). This can sound confusing, but it does not mean enrollment for attendance or instructional purposes. Instead, it is an administrative step that allows the district to conduct the evaluation, document eligibility decisions, develop an IEP if applicable, and report required compliance and Child Find data to the state.
Unless you choose to fully enroll your child in public school, your child remains a private or homeschool student.
FAQs on TEFA, Private School, and Homeschool Special Education Evaluations
"I called my local school district, and they said they're not responsible for the evaluation because my child attends a private school in a neighboring district. Are they right?"
This is a common point of confusion, and the answer depends on where your child is enrolled. Under IDEA, when a child is enrolled in a private school, the district where the private school is physically located is responsible for conducting the special education evaluation under Child Find, even if that district is not the child's home district.
Responsibility for providing FAPE (a Free Appropriate Public Education) generally rests with your home district if your child later enrolls in public school.
If your child is currently attending a private school and will continue there, the district where the private school is located is responsible for completing the evaluation. This division of responsibility can be confusing, and districts do not always explain it clearly.
"When I called the district, they said that because my child's private school doesn't accept TEFA, we don't need an evaluation. Can they say that?"
No. A private school's participation in TEFA is not relevant to your child's right to a special education evaluation.
Parents are entitled to request an evaluation regardless of TEFA participation, and the district cannot deny or delay an evaluation based on:
Which private school your child attends
Whether that school accepts TEFA funding
Students attending non-TEFA-approved private schools are still eligible for base-level TEFA funding offered to homeschooling families ($2,000/year). While this does not include additional disability-based funding, having a current FIIE and IEP can still be valuable for future planning if circumstances change.
Bottom line: TEFA participation is not the district's business when it comes to Child Find.
"Will the district refuse to evaluate my child because we're not enrolled in public school?"
They cannot legally refuse solely because your child is not enrolled in public school.
Districts may decline to evaluate if they do not have reason to suspect a disability. In that case, they must provide a Prior Written Notice (PWN) explaining the specific reasons and the data relied upon. If you disagree, mediation or due process options are available. This outcome is uncommon, but support is available if it occurs.
"What if my child is already receiving services at their private school?"
Private services do not disqualify your child from being evaluated.
The district's role is to determine whether your child would qualify for special education services in the public school setting. Private services are important information and should be shared as part of the evaluation process.
"Will this evaluation force me to enroll my child in public school?"
No. Requesting and completing an evaluation is separate from enrollment decisions.
You may be asked to "enroll" your child in the district's Student Information System (Skyward, Frontline, PowerSchool, etc.) for administrative purposes. This does not mean public school attendance or membership. Your child remains a private or homeschool student unless you choose otherwise.
"The district said my child's evaluation can't be finished before the TEFA application deadline. Can I make them go faster?"
No. Texas special education timelines allow for:
15 school days for the district to respond to your written request
45 school days to complete the evaluation after consent
30 calendar days to hold the ARD meeting to determine eligibility
These timelines exist to ensure evaluations are thorough and accurate. Rushing the process can be detrimental to your child.
If you were to request an FIIE for your child now, it is highly unlikely, if not impossible, that an eligibility decision will be completed before the 2026-27 TEFA application window closes. That said, requesting an evaluation may still make sense. FIIEs are valid for three years, and IEPs are valid for one year, which can position your child for future TEFA cycles or renewals.
TEFA program administrators have not clearly stated whether an IEP obtained after base funding approval can be applied retroactively for additional funding. It is possible but not guaranteed for the 2026-27 school year.
"The district said there are a lot of students ahead of mine, so they don't know when they'll get to us. Is that true?"
While districts often have multiple evaluations in progress, they must still meet legal timelines:
Respond to your written request within 15 school days
Complete the evaluation within 45 school days of consent
Hold the ARD meeting within 30 calendar days
Staffing shortages do not excuse missed deadlines. Most districts work hard to comply, but families should advocate firmly if timelines are not met.
"Does the district have to provide services to my private or homeschool child?"
Generally, no.
If your child qualifies for special education, the district will develop an IEP outlining the services it would provide if your child were enrolled in public school. Private and homeschool students do not have a right to these services unless they enroll.
Some students may be eligible for limited equitable services through a Services Plan, which is different from full IDEA services. For TEFA, districts create a TEFA IEP, and any additional disability-based funding depends on the services documented in that plan.
It's also important to manage expectations around the "up to $30,000 per year" in TEFA funding. While children with IEPs are eligible for additional funding, the highest amounts, sometimes an additional $20,000/year, are likely reserved for students with significant supports outlined in their IEP.
"My private evaluation recommends private tutoring and therapies five days a week, and I spend about $3,000 a month on these services. Will TEFA cover all of that?"
The short answer is no. TEFA provides a maximum of $30,000 per year, and the actual amount depends on the services documented in your child's IEP.
Public schools are required to provide FAPE (Free Appropriate Public Education), not every service recommended by private providers. Private tutors, therapists, and evaluations often prescribe a higher level of intervention than a public school is legally required to provide.
You should provide the district with all relevant private evaluations and therapy information; they are valuable for drafting the FIIE and IEP. Even children with robust IEPs often continue to receive private services in addition to what the district provides.
If you feel the district is not proposing enough services, it is appropriate to advocate for additional supports. However, remember that public schools are bound by FAPE, not private recommendations.
Many parents find this distinction confusing, but understanding FAPE helps set realistic expectations, advocate effectively, and make informed decisions about their child's education.
Why Special Education Evaluations for Private and Homeschool Students Can Be Confusing
Navigating special education evaluations can be challenging for families, and even for educators. The process sits at the intersection of federal law (IDEA), state regulations, and local district procedures, with strict timelines, compliance requirements, eligibility criteria, and a multidisciplinary evaluation team to coordinate.
Many private and homeschool families encounter additional complexity because districts may lack experience or capacity to work with non-public students. Some staff may unintentionally create delays or require extra steps, and private school staff may not fully understand the nuances of public evaluation requirements. Even experienced educators often know only part of the process, and the rules are complex enough that few people understand every step well enough to ensure your child's rights are fully protected.
Special Education and TEFA Support for Private and Homeschool Families
Whether you're pursuing TEFA or simply want to better understand your child's needs, you don't have to navigate this process alone. We offer multiple levels of support designed to meet families where they are.
Full-Service Advocacy provides comprehensive, hands-on guidance from initial request through post-ARD support. This includes timeline management, document review, a customized organizational system for all records, strategy sessions, and ARD meeting attendance. Ideal for families who want expert oversight throughout the entire process.
Hybrid Support combines hands-on help getting started with self-guided tools for the rest of the journey. We work directly with you to submit your evaluation request and get consent secured, then provide you with structured resources and two consultation sessions to use when you need guidance on specific decisions or document review.
Self-Guided Resources offer everything you need to navigate independently: detailed project plans, organizational systems, communication templates, evaluation review checklists, and ARD preparation guides. Perfect for families who are comfortable taking the lead but want professional-quality tools and frameworks.
Hourly Support provides flexible assistance for specific questions or time-limited needs, whether that's reviewing a document, preparing for a meeting, or getting help with a particular decision point.
Each option is designed to provide meaningful value at different price points and levels of involvement. The right choice depends on your comfort level, time availability, and the complexity of your child's situation.
If what you see here doesn't fit your exact needs, we also offer a host of additional services and can build customized support tailored to your unique situation.
Ready to discuss which option fits your family? Request a free consultation here. Subscribe and follow us on Facebook and YouTube.
Important Information
The services provided by Accessible Education are strictly for educational purposes only and do not constitute psychological or mental health services, nor do they involve the provision of psychological or educational assessments. We do not diagnose or treat any mental health or academic conditions. Accessible Education does not provide legal services or legal advice. Accessible Education offers services solely in the areas of parent support, education advocacy, and educational consultation with professionals.