Office of the Superintendent of Schools
Office of the Chief of Staff
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Authority To Negotiate And Execute Agreements And/Or Interlocal Memorandums Of Understanding With Community Agencies, Residential Facilities, And Educational Service Providers For Appraisal, Related, Instructional, And/Or Consultant Services For Students With Disabilities
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This is an update to the annual request to enter into contract negotiations for services for students with disabilities which was approved by the Houston Independent School District (HISD) School Board on June 13, 2024. The update establishes a not to exceed amount of $7.5 million.
These contracts are in compliance with Texas Education Agency (TEA) policies and guidelines. This agenda item requests that the School Board authorizes the superintendent of schools or a designee to approve other individual contracts after they have been negotiated by appropriate financial, legal, and Special Education staff members.
For school year 2024-2025, students with disabilities may require educational and related services beyond the scope of those offered on school campuses. These services are identified in each student's Individualized Education Program (IEP).
Contracts with residential and day-program facilities may include but are not limited to such facilities as River Oaks Academy, Shiloh Treatment Center, Texas School for the Deaf, Texas School for the Blind, Heartsprings, The Monarch School and Institute, Harris County Department of Education, and Providence Treatment Center. Each residential and nonpublic day-school facility has been approved by the TEA. The Office of Special Education Services makes an annual site visit to each residential and nonpublic day-school facility to review and evaluate student performance and program effectiveness in the implementation of the student's IEP. The TEA reference guide for nonpublic schools is used for the evaluation. Also, this includes services provided to students with disabilities in a residential facility (RF) within Houston Independent School District (HISD) boundaries which may include but are not limited to Harris County Jails, Odyssey House, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Harris County Psychiatric Center, Texas Children's Hospital, and Houston Area Women's Center. Each RF has been approved by a Texas Department of Licensing and Regulatory agency.
In addition, agreements with vendors for Independent Educational Evaluations per parental requests in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) regulations are included in this agenda item. Vendors for instructional and related student supports as mandated by TEA hearing officers' decisions, confidential settlement agreements, and settlement agreements executed by the district are also included.
Also specified in this agenda item are agreements with parents for transporting their children to and from school. Parents are reimbursed for transportation costs in cases where a student's physical or emotional condition prohibits them from being transported on an HISD bus. A private transportation agreement will be offered when specifically recommended and approved by the Admission, Review, and Dismissal/Individualized Education Program (ARD/IEP) committee. The contracts will be on file in the Office of Special Education Services and Community Services.
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COST/FUNDING SOURCE(S): |
The total cost of this program is determined by instructional and related services for students with disabilities as per their IEP. The program’s cost will be funded by IDEA-Part-B (IDEA-B) Formula grant funds, IDEA-B Preschool grant funds, and General Revenue funds. |
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Fund Source |
Fund |
Cost Center |
Functional Area |
General Ledger |
Internal Order/ Work Breakdown Structure |
Amount |
|
Special Revenue |
2240000000 |
1060924000 |
PS11230000000000 |
6219000000 |
N//A |
TBD |
|
Special Revenue |
2240000000 |
1060924000 |
PS11230000000000 |
6223000000 |
N//A |
TBD |
|
General Revenue |
1993000000 |
1060924000 |
PS11230000000000 |
6223000000 |
N//A |
TBD |
|
General Revenue |
1993000000 |
1060924000 |
PS31230000000000 |
6299000000 |
N//A |
TBD |
|
STAFFING IMPLICATIONS: |
None |
THIS ITEM DOES NOT ESTABLISH, MODIFY, OR DELETE BOARD POLICY.
recommendation
RECOMMENDED: That the School Board authorizes the superintendent of schools or a designee to negotiate and execute agreements and/or interlocal memorandums of understanding with community agencies, residential facilities, and educational service providers for appraisal, related, instructional, and/or consultant services as needed by staff members and students with disabilities, for an amount not to exceed $7.5 million, effective October 11, 2024.