Parental Rights and Procedural Safeguards
The Notice of Procedural Safeguards: Rights of Parents of Students with Disabilities explains the specific rights and responsibilities of the parent in the special education process. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act 2004 (IDEA 2004) requires school districts to give parents the Procedural Safeguards only one time a year, except upon: initial referral or on request for evaluation; the first occurrence of the filing of a due process hearing complaint; or upon request by a parent.
Notice of Procedural Safeguards (revised January 2025)
Aviso Sobre Procedimientos de Protección (revised January 2025)
Additional languages can be found at Procedural Safeguards - SPEDTex
Parent’s Guide to the Admission, Review, and Dismissal Process (revised January 2025)
Guía Para Padres del Proceso de Admisión, Repaso, y Retiro (revised January 2025)
Additional languages can be found at Parent's Guide to the ARDProcess - SPEDTex
Dispute Resolution
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) offers multiple processes for resolving disputes related to special education: individualized education program facilitation (FIEP), mediation, special education complaints, and due process hearings.
More detailed information about the processes above can be found in the handbooks linked below:
Special Education Dispute Resolution Handbook (revised August 2025)
Manual de Los Sistemas Para Resolución de Disputas de Educación Especial (revised August 2025)