Parent Navigator

  •  pictures of maps with tool needed for navigation: Parent Navigator for Special Education Parents   

    Plano ISD Student Support Services Department Mission

    Plano ISD Student Support Services Department will provide a full continuum of services and supports in order to educate, inspire, and empower every student to achieve their unique potential in a dynamic world.

    This is a site to support parents with students in Special Education.

    Special Education Contact List

    Special Education Continuum of Services




Events and Announcements

  • 33rd Annual Texas Autism Conference

     

    Registration is now open for the 33rd Annual Texas Autism Conference! Parents, guardians, and caretakers are invited to join the June 21 Family Day sessions free of charge. These sessions are entirely online and are geared towards parenting and caretaker topics that improve the lives of our students and children with autism. There will be many breakout sessions and a family focus group on this day. Learn more about the Texas Autism Conference and register for Family Day here.

    Comments (-1)

  • Star with stick figure family in the middle of the star

    Important for all Families

    This section includes important resources that are considered to be "top of the list things do to."

  • Texas Education Agency (TEA)- Resources

    Resources 

  • Updates in Special Education

    Updates 

    In 2019, the 86th Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 139 (SB 139), which requires Texas local education agencies (LEAs) to distribute the updates in special education at: https://tea.texas.gov/sites/default/files/Updates-on-Special-Education.pdf

    Additional notices are available at http://direc.to/dVYo regarding:

    Compensatory Services

    TEA developed a document to assist parents whose children may have been previously delayed or denied an evaluation under IDEA, in requesting compensatory services for their child. 

    OSEP Compensatory Services Notification Requirement (English/Espanol)

  • Actualizaciones en Educación Especial

    En el año 2019, la 86a Asamblea Legislativa de Texas aprobó el Proyecto de Ley del Senado 139 (Senate Bill, o SB, 139), que exige a todas las agencias de educación locales de Texas distribuir a todos los padres el aviso a continuación.

    Aviso para padres en español https://tea.texas.gov/sites/default/files/updates-on-special-education-spanish.pdf

    Por favor, lea el aviso y luego haga clic en http://direc.to/dVYo para leer los cuatro avisos adicionales proporcionados:

  • Parent-Directed Special Education Services (PDSES)

    Parent-Directed Special Education Services (PDSES)

    Parent-Directed Special Education Services (PDSES)  The Parent-Directed Special Education Services (PDSES) program is a one-time $1,500 online grant for parents/guardians of eligible students served by special education and who are enrolled in a Texas public school. Parents/guardians of eligible students can use the online accounts to shop the marketplace to obtain educational materials and resources such as textbooks, curriculum, or technology devices and/or services such as additional speech therapy, tutoring, or other specific services. The PDSES program is the same as the Supplemental Special Education Services (SSES) program, just with a new name to better reflect the importance of parents as decision makers in the educational process. The same students who were eligible for the SSES program are eligible for the PDSES program. If students already received an SSES grant, they will not be eligible for a PDSES program grant. 

    The PDSES Program is a first-come, first-served one-time only grant. If you have previously been awarded a PDSES or SSES account, you will not be eligible to apply again. Before you apply, please make sure your student meets the eligibility criteria.

    To be eligible for the PDSES grant, a student must:

    • be currently enrolled in a Texas public school (grades Pre-K through 12th);
    • receive special education services through an individualized education program (IEP); and
    • have not received a PDSES/SSES grant in the past. (PDSES is a one-time-only grant.)

    Servicios de Educación Especial Dirigidos por los Padres (PDSES por sus siglas en inglés)

    El programa de Servicios de Educación Especial Dirigidos por los Padres (PDSES, por sus siglas en inglés), es una subvención única en línea de $1,500 para padres/tutores de estudiantes elegibles atendidos por educación especial y que están inscritos en una escuela pública de Texas. Los padres/tutores de los estudiantes elegibles pueden usar las cuentas en línea para comprar en el mercado y obtener materiales y recursos educativos como libros de texto, currículo o dispositivos y/o servicios tecnológicos como terapia del habla adicional, tutoría u otros servicios específicos. El programa PDSES es el mismo que el programa Servicios Suplementarios de Educación Especial (SSES), solo que con un nuevo nombre para reflejar mejor la importancia de los padres como tomadores de decisiones en el proceso educativo. Los mismos estudiantes que eran elegibles para el programa SSES son elegibles para el programa PDSES. Si los estudiantes ya recibieron una beca de SSES, no serán elegibles para una beca del programa PDSES.

    Criterios de elegibilidad:

    El Programa PDSES es una subvención única por orden de llegada. Si anteriormente se le había otorgado una cuenta PDSES o SSES, no será elegible para volver a solicitarla. Antes de presentar la solicitud, asegúrese de que su estudiante cumpla con los criterios de elegibilidad.

    Para ser elegible para la beca PDSES, un estudiante debe:

    • estar actualmente inscrito en una escuela pública de Texas (grados Pre-K a 12);
    • recibir servicios de educación especial a través de un programa de educación individualizado (IEP, por sus siglas en inglés); y
    • no haber recibido una subvención PDSES/SSES en el pasado. (PDSES es una subvención de una sola vez).

    Update April 2025: 

    The 2024-2025 PDSES application is closed.

    The 2025-2026 application window will open in the Spring of 2026, please check back here for specific dates or you can sign up for PDSES email updates.

    La solicitud de PDSES para el año escolar 2024-2025 está cerrada.

    El plazo de solicitud para 2025-2026 se abrirá en la primavera de 2026, vuelva aquí para conocer las fechas específicas o puede inscribirse para recibir actualizaciones por correo electrónico de PDSES.

  • Plano ISD District Calendar

    District Calendar

  • LifePath Systems (For Collin County Residents)

    LifePath Systems To be placed on the Interest List, call Lifepath Services at 972-562-0190 or the Department of Human Services at 512-438-5658 

  • Metrocare (For Dallas County Residents)

    Metrocare (For Dallas County Residents) To be placed on the Interest List call Inquiry Line: (866) 501-6535

  • Partners Resource Network

    Partners Resource Network

    Partners Resource Network PACT Project

    Partners Resouce Network Statewide Webinars 

    Fact Sheets 

  • SPEDTex

    Logo for SpedTex Special Education Information Center

    Description: The Special Education Information Center (SPEDTex) provides resources and interactive features for increasing family awareness of disabilities and special education processes, with the goal of improving partnerships between schools and families.

    Contact information:

    Phone: 1-855-773-3839

    Email: inquire@spedtex.org

    Link to Website (with live chat)

  • Medicaid Waivers

    • SPED TEX: Texas Medicaid Waiver Programs for Children with Disabilities
      • With the following information shared by Navigate Life Texas, a project supported by Texas Health and Human Services, you can learn more about Medicaid waiver programs for children, including an overview of services and eligibility. Click here.

    • SPED TEX: Resources and Help Available: Get on the Waiting Lists Now

      • Find out why it’s important to be on waiting lists for resources early in your child’s life in this video from Texas Complex Access Network. Click here

    Planning for the Future with Medicaid Waivers

    Region 10 Medicaid Waiver Handouts: English  Spanish

  • Plano Police Department

    Take Me Home Program

    Youth Police Academy

  • icon of book on computer screen

    Digital Resources

     Below are recordings and presentations that Special Education has provided for Parents/Families. The recordings are organized based on the event they were presented at. 

  • green heart with information symbol on the heart

    General Information

    The sections below provide information regarding special education contact lists, acronyms, evaluations, IDEA, and more.  There are also sections that include information you may need in regard to a particular time of year. 

  • Image of flyer that is linked to image for Beginning of the year and End of the year

  • Plant pot decorated with hand holding tool with resource icons growing

    Resources

    The resource section provides links for special education, program, and community resources. 

  • People around table with ARD on the table

    ARD Process 

    In the Admission, Review and Dismissal (ARD) Process sections you will find links to provide further information about the ARD and Individualized Education Plan (IEP) processes such as the ARD guide and procedural safeguards. 

  • graduation hat with document

    Transition Support 

    Transition Support is for all ages (pre-k to adult). Additional information regarding these transitions by age level is linked below.