The 86th Texas Legislature passed Article III, Rider 76 authorizing a second cycle of funding for a grant program to support innovative school-wide models to provide exceptionally effective services to students with autism.
The grant program is intended to provide funding to individual grantees and collaborations that seek to implement innovative programs that effectively address the unique academic and functional needs of students with autism. Successful applicants may focus on new and innovative practices, or new and innovative ways to remove barriers to effective implementation of accepted practices, or both. Strong applications will demonstrate the integration of feedback from stakeholders, including parents, educators, and community members. Preference will be given to applications that include collaborations among school districts, and/or open enrollment charter schools. Applicants are encouraged to engage in collaborative activities with regional educational service centers (ESCs) and institutions of higher education (IHEs).
General Allowable Activities and Use of Funds
- Teacher credentialing, training, and/or professional development specifically related to best practices in providing instruction to students with autism
- Salary for a dedicated program director/administrator
- Salaries for dedicated staff
- Instructional resources necessary for implementation of best practices in instruction for students with autism
- Technology necessary to provide instruction aligned with research and best practices for students with autism
- Curriculum development
- Transportation for students
- Transportation to enable parents to participate in parent training and collaboration
- Capital outlay
- Relevant services provided by private or community-based providers
- Materials that support academic and functional goals
- Equipment necessary to establish an independent program
- Interpreter or translation services for parent training, collaboration, and materials
- Food and beverages for parents limited to refreshments and light meals for training activities that occur at mealtimes
- Staff stipends or extra duty pay for childcare during parent training
- Community Based Instruction (CBI): CBI is a model for delivery of instruction in which IEP goals are taught in a natural” age-appropriate setting, and not considered a field trip. The primary purpose of CBI is to teach and generalize skills in natural settings so that students may live, work, and recreate in their communities as independently as possible. The following is an example of CBI: Math, sequencing, travel, and social skills goals may be addressed during a trip to the grocery store.
There are two types of requirements in which applicants must comply to be eligible for funding: Statutory requirements (requirements defined in the authorizing statute) and TEA program requirements (requirements defined by TEA program staff).
Statutory Requirements The applicant must comply with each of these requirements in the application to be considered for funding:
- Use evidence-based and research-based design and include effective use of technology;
- Establish baselines for metrics on student achievement and improvement, collect empirical data on these metrics, and use that data to support effective program implementation;
- Incorporate parental support and collaboration;
- Build a program that reflects the diversity of the state and that can be replicated for students statewide.
TEA Program Requirements The applicant must comply with each of these requirements in the application to be considered for funding:
- Use innovative approaches to effectively address the unique academic and functional needs of students with autism. Applicants may focus on new and innovative practices, new and innovative ways to remove barriers to effective implementation of accepted practices, or both;
- Incorporate meaningful inclusion;
- Coordinate services with private or community-based providers, if applicable.
Approximately $10,000,000 was available for up to 10 awards in FY19.
Unallowable activities and use of funds for this grant may include but are not limited to the following:
Field trips may not be funded under the grant program. Conferences may not be hosted or sponsored under the grant program.