CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html>     <html class="no-js">  <head><script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/bundle-playback.js?v=HxkREWBo" charset="utf-8"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/wombat.js?v=txqj7nKC" charset="utf-8"></script> <script>window.RufflePlayer=window.RufflePlayer||{};window.RufflePlayer.config={"autoplay":"on","unmuteOverlay":"hidden"};</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/ruffle/ruffle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> __wm.init("https://web.archive.org/web"); __wm.wombat("http://www.texastribune.org:80/2015/03/17/bill-would-allow-special-needs-students-transfer-f/","20150420063742","https://web.archive.org/","web","/_static/", "1429511862"); </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/banner-styles.css?v=S1zqJCYt" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/iconochive.css?v=3PDvdIFv" />  <title>State Could Pay for Special Needs Students to Transfer | The Texas Tribune</title> <link rel="shortcut icon" type="image/x-icon" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150420063742im_/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/common/images/favicon.ico"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"> <meta charset="utf-8"><script type="text/javascript">window.NREUM||(NREUM={}),__nr_require=function(e,n,t){function r(t){if(!n[t]){var o=n[t]={exports:{}};e[t][0].call(o.exports,function(n){var o=e[t][1][n];return r(o?o:n)},o,o.exports)}return n[t].exports}if("function"==typeof __nr_require)return __nr_require;for(var o=0;o<t.length;o++)r(t[o]);return r}({QJf3ax:[function(e,n){function t(e){function n(n,t,a){e&&e(n,t,a),a||(a={});for(var u=c(n),f=u.length,s=i(a,o,r),p=0;f>p;p++)u[p].apply(s,t);return s}function a(e,n){f[e]=c(e).concat(n)}function c(e){return f[e]||[]}function u(){return t(n)}var f={};return{on:a,emit:n,create:u,listeners:c,_events:f}}function r(){return{}}var o="nr@context",i=e("gos");n.exports=t()},{gos:"7eSDFh"}],ee:[function(e,n){n.exports=e("QJf3ax")},{}],3:[function(e,n){function t(e){return function(){r(e,[(new Date).getTime()].concat(i(arguments)))}}var r=e("handle"),o=e(1),i=e(2);"undefined"==typeof window.newrelic&&(newrelic=window.NREUM);var a=["setPageViewName","addPageAction","setCustomAttribute","finished","addToTrace","inlineHit","noticeError"];o(a,function(e,n){window.NREUM[n]=t("api-"+n)}),n.exports=window.NREUM},{1:12,2:13,handle:"D5DuLP"}],"7eSDFh":[function(e,n){function t(e,n,t){if(r.call(e,n))return e[n];var o=t();if(Object.defineProperty&&Object.keys)try{return Object.defineProperty(e,n,{value:o,writable:!0,enumerable:!1}),o}catch(i){}return e[n]=o,o}var r=Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty;n.exports=t},{}],gos:[function(e,n){n.exports=e("7eSDFh")},{}],handle:[function(e,n){n.exports=e("D5DuLP")},{}],D5DuLP:[function(e,n){function t(e,n,t){return r.listeners(e).length?r.emit(e,n,t):(o[e]||(o[e]=[]),void o[e].push(n))}var r=e("ee").create(),o={};n.exports=t,t.ee=r,r.q=o},{ee:"QJf3ax"}],id:[function(e,n){n.exports=e("XL7HBI")},{}],XL7HBI:[function(e,n){function t(e){var n=typeof e;return!e||"object"!==n&&"function"!==n?-1:e===window?0:i(e,o,function(){return r++})}var r=1,o="nr@id",i=e("gos");n.exports=t},{gos:"7eSDFh"}],G9z0Bl:[function(e,n){function t(){var e=d.info=NREUM.info,n=f.getElementsByTagName("script")[0];if(e&&e.licenseKey&&e.applicationID&&n){c(p,function(n,t){n in e||(e[n]=t)});var t="https"===s.split(":")[0]||e.sslForHttp;d.proto=t?"https://":"http://",a("mark",["onload",i()]);var r=f.createElement("script");r.src=d.proto+e.agent,n.parentNode.insertBefore(r,n)}}function r(){"complete"===f.readyState&&o()}function o(){a("mark",["domContent",i()])}function i(){return(new Date).getTime()}var a=e("handle"),c=e(1),u=(e(2),window),f=u.document,s=(""+location).split("?")[0],p={beacon:"bam.nr-data.net",errorBeacon:"bam.nr-data.net",agent:"js-agent.newrelic.com/nr-632.min.js"},d=n.exports={offset:i(),origin:s,features:{}};f.addEventListener?(f.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",o,!1),u.addEventListener("load",t,!1)):(f.attachEvent("onreadystatechange",r),u.attachEvent("onload",t)),a("mark",["firstbyte",i()])},{1:12,2:3,handle:"D5DuLP"}],loader:[function(e,n){n.exports=e("G9z0Bl")},{}],12:[function(e,n){function t(e,n){var t=[],o="",i=0;for(o in e)r.call(e,o)&&(t[i]=n(o,e[o]),i+=1);return t}var r=Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty;n.exports=t},{}],13:[function(e,n){function t(e,n,t){n||(n=0),"undefined"==typeof t&&(t=e?e.length:0);for(var r=-1,o=t-n||0,i=Array(0>o?0:o);++r<o;)i[r]=e[n+r];return i}n.exports=t},{}]},{},["G9z0Bl"]);</script><script type="text/javascript">window.NREUM||(NREUM={});NREUM.info={"beacon":"bam.nr-data.net","queueTime":0,"licenseKey":"8636ab2091","agent":"js-agent.newrelic.com/nr-632.min.js","transactionName":"ZwZWZ0NWD0VRAE1YCV5MckZfVBVfXw0WUgleF1FdRRkSQl8RUFQVHhVdVkZEW3VfDU1UCEQnUUdQXg0=","applicationID":"452513","errorBeacon":"bam.nr-data.net","applicationTime":280}</script> <meta name="description" content="Under a bill before lawmakers Tuesday, the state would expand an existing program to pay if special needs students need to transfer out of schools that aren't serving their individual needs.&nbsp;"/> <meta name="keywords" content=""/> <meta property="twitter:card" content="photo"/> <meta property="twitter:site" content="The Texas Tribune"/> <meta property="twitter:title" content="State Could Pay for Special Needs Students to Transfer, by Eva Hershaw"/> <meta property="twitter:description" content="Under a bill before lawmakers Tuesday, the state would expand an existing program to pay if special needs students need to transfer out of schools that aren't serving their individual needs.&nbsp;"/> <meta property="twitter:image" content="https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/03/21/TxTrib-Sequester-005_jpg_407x1000_q100.jpg"> <meta name="parsely-title" content="State Could Pay for Special Needs Students to Transfer"/> <meta name="parsely-link" content="http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/17/bill-would-allow-special-needs-students-transfer-f/"/> <meta name="parsely-pub-date" content="March 17, 2015, 6:53 p.m."/> <meta name="parsely-author" content="Eva Hershaw"/> <meta name="parsely-section" content="FRONT PAGE"/> <meta property="parsely-image-url" content="https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/03/21/TxTrib-Sequester-005_jpg_407x1000_q100.jpg"> <meta name="parsely-type" content="post"/> <meta property="fb:app_id" content="154122474650943"> <meta property="og:site_name" content="The Texas Tribune"/> <meta property="og:url" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/17/bill-would-allow-special-needs-students-transfer-f/"/> <meta property="twitter:url" content="http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/17/bill-would-allow-special-needs-students-transfer-f/"/> <meta property="og:title" content="State Could Pay for Special Needs Students to Transfer, by Eva Hershaw"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Under a bill before lawmakers Tuesday, the state would expand an existing program to pay if special needs students need to transfer out of schools that aren't serving their individual needs.&nbsp;"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20150420063742im_/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/03/21/TxTrib-Sequester-005_jpg_800x1000_q100.jpg"/>  <script type="text/javascript" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150420063742js_/http://use.typekit.com/brb4jmm.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript">try{Typekit.load();}catch(e){}</script> <link href="https://plus.google.com/116406259333166116089/" rel="publisher"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/17/bill-would-allow-special-needs-students-transfer-f/"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150420063742cs_/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/COMPRESSED/css/2c1c9bbe6a0c.css" type="text/css"/>  <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150420063742cs_/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/common/css/story_base.css"> <script> (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){ (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o), m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m) })(window,document,'script','//web.archive.org/web/20150420063742/http://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga'); ga('create', 'UA-9827490-1', 'texastribune.org'); ga('require', 'displayfeatures'); ga('send', 'pageview'); </script> <script>// var tt = tt || {}; tt.debug = false; tt.media_url = 'https://web.archive.org/web/20150420063742/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/common/'; tt.facebook = {appId: '154122474650943'}; // Doubleclick integration tt.ads = { // targeting: {}, // addTarget: function(key, value) { if (typeof key === 'undefined'){ // get all attrs return tt.ads.targeting; } else { // set attr tt.ads.targeting[key] = value; } } }; </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150420063742js_/http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.7.2/jquery.min.js"></script> <script>window.jQuery || document.write('<script src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150420063742/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/common/vendor/jquery/1.7.2/jquery.min.js"><\/script>')</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150420063742js_/http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jqueryui/1.8.18/jquery-ui.min.js"></script> <script>window.jQuery.ui || document.write('<script src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150420063742/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/common/vendor/jqueryui/jquery-ui-1.8.18.min.js"><\/script>')</script> <script src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150420063742js_/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/common/vendor/modernizr/modernizr.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> var tt = tt || {}; tt.currentPage = tt.currentPage || {}; var shortenedHash = '18E7LE8'; tt.currentPage.canonicalUrl = '/2015/03/17/bill\u002Dwould\u002Dallow\u002Dspecial\u002Dneeds\u002Dstudents\u002Dtransfer\u002Df/'; var authorTwitterAccounts = ['']; tt.currentPage.authors = [ "Eva Hershaw" ]; tt.currentPage.authorsText = "Eva Hershaw"; tt.currentPage.sections = [ "article" ]; tt.currentPage.sections.push("FRONT PAGE"); </script> </head> <body class="story responsive"> <script type="text/javascript"> var _qevents = _qevents || []; (function() { var elem = document.createElement('script'); elem.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https://web.archive.org/web/20150420063742/https://secure" : "https://web.archive.org/web/20150420063742/http://edge") + ".quantserve.com/quant.js"; elem.async = true; elem.type = "text/javascript"; var scpt = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; scpt.parentNode.insertBefore(elem, scpt); })(); </script> <script type="text/javascript">var _sf_startpt=(new Date()).getTime()</script> <div class="wrapper-r"> <div id="site_roofline" style="position:relative;"> <div class="hide-for-mobile large_ad_container"> <div class="ad adunit tablet standard" data-dimensions="728x90" data-adunit="TexasTribune_Site_Roofline1_ATF_Leaderboard_728x90"> </div> <div class="ad adunit tablet standard" data-dimensions="728x90" data-adunit="TexasTribune_Site_Roofline2_ATF_Leaderboard_728x90"> </div> <div class="ad adunit tablet standard" data-dimensions="728x90" data-adunit="TexasTribune_Site_Roofline3_ATF_Leaderboard_728x90"> </div> <div class="ad adunit tablet standard" data-dimensions="728x90" data-adunit="TexasTribune_Site_Roofline4_ATF_Leaderboard_728x90"> </div> </div> <div class="mobile-only"> <div class="ad adunit mobile" data-dimensions="300x100" data-adunit="_TexasTribune_Site_Roofline1_ATF_Leaderboard_300x100"> </div> <div class="ad adunit mobile" data-dimensions="300x100" data-adunit="_TexasTribune_Site_Roofline2_ATF_Leaderboard_300x100"> </div> <div class="ad adunit mobile" data-dimensions="300x100" data-adunit="_TexasTribune_Site_Roofline3_ATF_Leaderboard_300x100"> </div> <div class="ad adunit mobile" data-dimensions="300x100" data-adunit="_TexasTribune_Site_Roofline4_ATF_Leaderboard_300x100"> </div> </div> </div> <div id="greeting"> <ul> <li> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/accounts/register/" title="Register for your free Texas Tribune account">Register</a> </li> <li class="last"> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/accounts/login/?next=">Login</a> <script> (function(){ var allScripts = document.getElementsByTagName('script'), currentScript = allScripts[allScripts.length - 1], node = currentScript; while (node = node.previousSibling) { if (node.nodeName == "A"){ node.href += document.location.pathname; break; } }; })(); </script> </li> </ul> </div> <header id="site_header"> <nav class="navbar primary"> <ul> <li class="hide-for-mobile navbar-search"> <form method="get" action="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/search/"> <input id="site_search_q" name="q" type="text" value="" placeholder="Search..."> <button type="submit" aria-label="Submit"><i class="icon-search"></i></button> </form> </li> <li class="active hide-for-mobile dropdown-toggle"> <a class="dropdown-toggle" href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/"> Front Page </a> <div class="mega-dropdown grid" id="sections"> <div class="cell w-3 tab_nav_cell"> <ul id="sidemenu" class="tab-nav"> <li><a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/economy/" data-section="economy"> Economy </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/education/" data-section="education"> Education </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/energy-and-environment/" data-section="energy-and-environment"> Energy & Environment</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/government/" data-section="government"> Government </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/health-and-human-services/" data-section="health-and-human-services"> Health & Human Services </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/law-and-order/" data-section="law-and-order"> Law & Order </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/people/" data-section="people"> People </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/politics/" data-section="politics"> Politics </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/race-and-immigration/" data-section="race-and-immigration"> Race & Immigration </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/transportation/" data-section="transportation"> Transportation </a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="sections-tab-container" class="cell w-9 tab_container" data-content-resource="/esi/components/megadropdown/"> <div style="padding: 1em; font-family: 'LeagueGothicRegular'; font-size:2.1em; color: #999; ">Loading...</div> </div> </div> </li> <li class="hide-for-mobile"> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/library/data/"> Data </a> </li> <li class="hide-for-mobile"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150420063742/http://txlege.texastribune.org/" title="84th Lege Session landing page"> 84th Lege </a> </li> <li class="hide-for-mobile"> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/directory/"> Directory </a> </li> <li class="hide-for-mobile"> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/events/"> Events </a> </li> <li class="hide-for-mobile dropdown-toggle"> <a class="multimedia" href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/multimedia/"> Multimedia </a> <ul class="dropdown"> <li><a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/livestream/">Livestream</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="hide-for-mobile dropdown-toggle"> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/subscribe/"> Subscriptions </a> <ul class="dropdown"> <li><a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/tribpedia/the-brief/">The Brief</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/texas-weekly/">Texas Weekly</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/plus/edu/">Trib+Edu</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/plus/health/">Trib+Health</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/plus/water/">Trib+Water</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="hide-for-mobile"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150420063742/http://www.tribtalk.org/"> TribTalk </a> </li> <li class="hide-for-mobile"> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/tribinvestigates/" title="Trib Investigates"> Investigations </a> </li> <li class="hide-for-mobile"> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/2016/" title="2016 Presidential Elections"> 2016 </a> </li> <li class="mobile-only active dropdown-toggle"> <a href="#"> Menu<i class="icon-caret-down"></i> </a> <ul class="mobile-dropdown"> <li> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/">Front Page</a> </li> <li> <a class="data" href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/library/data/">Data</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150420063742/http://txlege.texastribune.org/" title="84th Lege Session landing page"> 84th Lege </a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/directory/">Directory</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/events/">Events</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/multimedia/">Multimedia</a> </li> <li><a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/livestream/">Livestream</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/tribpedia/the-brief/">The Brief</a></li> <li> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/texas-weekly/">Texas Weekly</a> </li> <li><a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/plus/edu/">Trib+Edu</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/plus/health/">Trib+Health</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/plus/water/">Trib+Water</a></li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150420063742/http://www.tribtalk.org/">TribTalk</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/tribinvestigates/" title="Trib Investigates"> Investigations </a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/2016/" title="2016 Presidential Elections"> 2016 </a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="mobile-only dropdown-toggle"> <a href="#"> Sections<i class="icon-caret-down"></i> </a> <ul class="mobile-dropdown"> <li><a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/economy/" data-section="economy"> Economy </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/education/" data-section="education"> Education </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/energy-and-environment/" data-section="energy-and-environment"> Energy & Environment</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/government/" data-section="government"> Government </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/health-and-human-services/" data-section="health-and-human-services"> Health & Human Services </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/law-and-order/" data-section="law-and-order"> Law & Order </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/people/" data-section="people"> People </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/politics/" data-section="politics"> Politics </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/race-and-immigration/" data-section="race-and-immigration"> Race & Immigration </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/transportation/" data-section="transportation"> Transportation </a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="mobile-only dropdown-toggle"> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/search/"><i class="icon-search"></i></a> <div class="mobile-dropdown mobile-search"> <form method="get" action="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/search/"> <input name="q" type="text" value="" placeholder="SEARCH"> <button type="search" alt="Do Search"> <i class="icon-search"></i> </button> </form> </div> </li> <li class="mobile-only active" id="mobi_join"> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/join/"> Support Us </a> </li> </ul> </nav> <div class="ad last"> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/join/" title="Contribute Today" style="display: block; padding-top: .5em"> <div style="background:url(//web.archive.org/web/20150420063742im_/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/membership/TT-supportus-flag.png) no-repeat; width: 120px; height:60px; background-size: 120px 60px;"></div> </a> </div> <div class="below_nav"> <h1 id="logo"><a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150420063742im_/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/common/images/logo.png" width="453" height="50" alt="The Texas Tribune"></a></h1> <time datetime="2015-04-20T01:37:42.128424">Monday, April 20, 2015</time> </div> </header> </div> <div class="wrapper content-wrapper"> <div id="site_content" class="content "> <div class="grid"> <div class="cell w-8 main_column"> <article class="last"> <header> <h1>State Could Pay for Special Needs Students to Transfer</h1> <ul class="meta separator"><li class="byline"> by <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/eva-hershaw/" rel="author">Eva Hershaw</a></li><li><time datetime="Tue, 17 Mar 2015 18:53:30 -0500" title="2015-03-17 18:53"> March 17, 2015 </time></li><li class="comments"><a class="comments" href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/17/bill-would-allow-special-needs-students-transfer-f/comments/"><span class="value">16</span><span class="label">Comments</span></a></li></ul> </header> <aside> <ul class="social_links"> <li class="comment"> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/17/bill-would-allow-special-needs-students-transfer-f/comments/" title=""> <i class="icon-comments-alt"></i> <span>Comment</span> </a> </li> <li class="republish"> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/content/republish/83659/"> <i class="icon-share"></i> <span>Republish</span> </a> </li> <li class="email"> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1d226e687f77787e6920497578382f2d4978657c6e382f2d496f747f68737827382f2d4e697c6978382f2d5e72687179382f2d4d7c64382f2d7b726f382f2d4e6d78Xcial%20Needs%20Students%20to%20Transfer&body=I%20read an article%20that%20you%20might%20be%20interested%20in%20at%20The%20Texas%20Tribune:%20State%20Could%20Pay%20for%20Special%20Needs%20Students%20to%20Transfer%2C%20by%20Eva Hershaw.%20http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/17/bill-would-allow-special-needs-students-transfer-f/%0DUnder%20a%20bill%20before%20lawmakers%20Tuesday%2C%20the%20state%20would%20expand%20an%20existing%20program%20to%20pay%20if%20special%20needs%20students%20need%20to%20transfer%20out%20of%20schools%20that%20aren%27t%20serving%20their%20individual%20needs.%26nbsp%3B" title="" class="email"> <i class="icon-envelope"></i> <span>Email</span> </a> </li> <li class="twitter"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150420063742/http://twitter.com/share?text=State Could Pay for Special Needs Students to Transfer&url=http://trib.it/18E7LE8&via=TexasTribune&related=TexasTribune,TribData"> <i class="icon-twitter"></i> <span>Tweet</span> </a> </li> <li class="facebook"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150420063742/http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/17/bill-would-allow-special-needs-students-transfer-f/"> <i class="icon-facebook"></i> <span>Recommend</span> </a> </li> </ul> </aside> <div class="content"> <div class="media article_detail unprose"> <a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150420063742/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/03/21/TxTrib-Sequester-005_jpg_800x1000_q100.jpg" title="Stacy Ford taking her daughter, Aurora, who is 11 years old and has Down Syndrome, to school on Tuesday, March 19, 2013." class="lightbox"> <img src="//web.archive.org/web/20150420063742im_/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/03/21/TxTrib-Sequester-005_jpg_312x1000_q100.jpg" alt="Stacy Ford taking her daughter, Aurora, who is 11 years old and has Down Syndrome, to school on Tuesday, March 19, 2013."> </a> <div class="photo_links"> <a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150420063742/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/03/21/TxTrib-Sequester-005_jpg_800x1000_q100.jpg" title="Stacy Ford taking her daughter, Aurora, who is 11 years old and has Down Syndrome, to school on Tuesday, March 19, 2013." class="lightbox enlarge">Enlarge</a> <cite>photo by: Spencer Selvidge</cite> </div> <div class="photo_caption">Stacy Ford taking her daughter, Aurora, who is 11 years old and has Down Syndrome, to school on Tuesday, March 19, 2013.</div> </div> <p><sup>*Correction appended</sup></p> <p>The state would start paying for special needs students to change schools if they aren't being adequately helped under a bill before lawmakers Tuesday. But critics worry that setting up an escape hatch may make it easier for schools to duck their responsibilities to students who require individualized help.</p> <p>Sponsored by state Rep. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/directory/ron-simmons/">Ron Simmons</a>, R-Carrollton, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150420063742/http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/Text.aspx?LegSess=84R&Bill=HB279">House Bill 279</a> would expand<strong> </strong><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/2013/02/15/new-scholarship-pushed-existing-program-languishes/">what are known as</a> "public education grants," which<span style="line-height: 1.35;"> let<strong> </strong>students <span>at schools<strong> </strong><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150420063742/http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/perfreport/peg/2014/peg_list_2015-16.pdf">determined as persistently low-performing</a><span> </span></span>to transfer to better schools. Under the measure, any K-12 student who is eligible for a special education program and has an individualized education program (IEP) would become eligible for the grants. </span></p> <p>"The current PEG system is set up for parents to have a choice," said Simmons, speaking to the House Public Education Committee. "This bill will allow special needs families to meet their child's unique needs.”</p> <p><span style="line-height: 1.35;">The expansion would cost<strong> </strong>$4.5 million<span> and would, according to Simmons, allow for transfers in cases where it is "fiscally impossible" for school districts to provide the tools necessary for special needs students. He added that receiving schools, as is currently the case under the PEG system, would be paid a bonus for receiving the child. </span></span></p><div class="ad_container ad_container--adify"> <div class="ad adunit mobile tablet standard" data-adunit="TexasTribune_Content_StoryPage_InsideStory_468x60"> </div> </div> <p><span style="line-height: 1.35;">Barbi Beard-Wolfe, the mother of a son with Down syndrome, testified in favor of the bill but expressed concerns: "What is the accountability for the exiting school?" she asked. "We don't want them to simply tell their students to leave, rather than improve their programs."</span></p> <p>State Rep. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/directory/mary-gonzalez/">Mary González</a>, D-Clint, wondered the same thing. "All of us want our kids with different abilities to have access to education," she said. "But are we creating a pathway by which schools would not prioritize special needs students?"</p> <p><span>These sentiments were echoed by </span>Rona Statman, the director of family support services at the Arc of Texas, an advocacy group for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. "Policywise, it could send a message that we can't provide services to every kid, when law says we must provide services to every kid. A school cannot say, 'We can't provide that.'"</p> <p><span style="line-height: 1.35;">Committee members also wondered how students would get to other schools.<strong> </strong>Currently, the receiving district does not have any responsibility to provide transportation in the PEG program, but for a student with an IEP, the receiving district could be required to arrange for transportation, depending on the details agreed upon in the plan.</span></p> <p class="western">Justin Yancy, a member of the Texas Business Leadership Council, testified in favor, emphasizing that better education for all students would benefit Texas in the long run. "We believe it provides an opportunity for a student to become better prepared," Yancy told the panel. "This is a piece of what we can do to make our state more competitive."</p> <p class="western">Ted Melina Raab, who testified against the bill, said "the basic problem with HB 279 is that it doesn't address what we need to ensure that all students with special needs get an appropriate education." Representing Texas AFT, a teachers union, he added that they "believe the best way to deal with individual cases is through the proper application of the system in place."</p> <p><span style="line-height: 1.35;"><span>Under Texas law, the receiving school in the PEG program does reserve the option to turn down transfer students, so long as the decision is not made on the basis of a student’s race, ethnicity, academic achievement, athletic abilities, language proficiency, sex or socioeconomic status. The proposed legislation would add disability to this list, prohibiting schools from rejecting a transfer student based on special needs.</span></span> </p> <p><span style="line-height: 1.35;">Currently, the </span><span style="line-height: 1.35;">Texas Education Agency estimates that only 0.7 percent of all eligible students take advantage of the PEG program. </span><span style="line-height: 1.35;">The bill was left pending.</span></p> <p><span style="line-height: 1.35;"><em>Correction: The name of an Arc of Texas official was originally misspelled. She is Rona Statman, not Ronda.</em> </span></p> <p><span style="line-height: 1.35;"><i>Disclosure: The Texas Business Leadership Council and Texas AFT are corporate sponsors of The Texas Tribune. </i><i>A complete list of Tribune donors and sponsors can be viewed </i><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/support-us/donors-and-members/"><i>here</i></a><i>.</i></span></p><div class="ad_container ad_container--adify"> <div class="ad adunit mobile tablet standard" data-adunit="TexasTribune_Content_StoryPage_InsideStory2_468x60"> </div> </div> </div> <aside> <ul class="social_links"> <li class="comment"> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/17/bill-would-allow-special-needs-students-transfer-f/comments/" title=""> <i class="icon-comments-alt"></i> <span>Comment</span> </a> </li> <li class="republish"> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/content/republish/83659/"> <i class="icon-share"></i> <span>Republish</span> </a> </li> <li class="email"> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ab94d8dec9c1cec8df96ffc3ce8e999bffced3cad88e999bffd9c2c9dec5ce918e999bf8dfcadfce8e999be8c4dec7cf8e999bfbcad28e999bcdc4d98e999bf8dbceXcial%20Needs%20Students%20to%20Transfer&body=I%20read an article%20that%20you%20might%20be%20interested%20in%20at%20The%20Texas%20Tribune:%20State%20Could%20Pay%20for%20Special%20Needs%20Students%20to%20Transfer%2C%20by%20Eva Hershaw.%20http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/17/bill-would-allow-special-needs-students-transfer-f/%0DUnder%20a%20bill%20before%20lawmakers%20Tuesday%2C%20the%20state%20would%20expand%20an%20existing%20program%20to%20pay%20if%20special%20needs%20students%20need%20to%20transfer%20out%20of%20schools%20that%20aren%27t%20serving%20their%20individual%20needs.%26nbsp%3B" title="" class="email"> <i class="icon-envelope"></i> <span>Email</span> </a> </li> <li class="twitter"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150420063742/http://twitter.com/share?text=State Could Pay for Special Needs Students to Transfer&url=http://trib.it/18E7LE8&via=TexasTribune&related=TexasTribune,TribData"> <i class="icon-twitter"></i> <span>Tweet</span> </a> </li> <li class="facebook"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150420063742/http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/17/bill-would-allow-special-needs-students-transfer-f/"> <i class="icon-facebook"></i> <span>Recommend</span> </a> </li> </ul> </aside> <footer> <div class="grid"> <div class="cell w-6"> <aside class="sidebar_block related content_list"> <header> <h2>Related Content</h2> </header> <dl> <dt> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/10/house-education-committee-consider-pre-k-bills/">Talk Turns to Standards as Lawmakers Weigh Pre-K Bills</a> </dt> <dd> <ul class="meta short separator relative-time"><li class="byline"> by <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/morgan-smith/">Morgan Smith</a> and <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/ryan-mccrimmon/">Ryan McCrimmon</a></li><li><time datetime="Tue, 10 Mar 2015 17:37:38 -0500" title="2015-03-10 17:37"> March 10, 2015 </time></li><li class="comments"><a class="comments" href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/10/house-education-committee-consider-pre-k-bills/comments/"><span class="value">4</span><span class="label">Comments</span></a></li></ul> </dd> <dt> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/2010/08/04/educators-officials-face-400--spike-in-autism/">Educators, Officials Face 400 % Spike in Autism</a> </dt> <dd> <ul class="meta short separator relative-time"><li class="byline"> by Kate Ergenbright </li><li><time datetime="Wed, 4 Aug 2010 05:00:00 -0500" title="2010-08-04 05:00"> Aug. 4, 2010 </time></li><li class="comments"><a class="comments" href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/2010/08/04/educators-officials-face-400--spike-in-autism/comments/"><span class="value">8</span><span class="label">Comments</span></a></li></ul> </dd> </dl> </aside> </div> <div class="cell w-6"> <aside class="sidebar_block related"> <header> <h2>Related Tribpedia</h2> </header> <p class="help">No related Tribpedia found</p> </aside> </div> </div> </footer> </article> <nav class="back_to_top"> <a href="#"><i class="icon-arrow-up"></i> Back To Top</a> </nav> </div> <div class=" rail cell w-4 hide-for-medium-down"> <section class="trib_newsletter"> <form action="https://web.archive.org/web/20150420063742/http://texastribune.us3.list-manage2.com/subscribe/post?u=3d0ce87edeeb6df90043897db&id=68501b81bf" method="post" id="mc-embedded-subscribe-form" name="mc-embedded-subscribe-form" class="validate" target="_blank" novalidate> <header> <h2>Sign Up for The Brief</h2> </header> <p>Our daily news summary</p> <div class="mc-field-group nowrap"> <input type="email" value="" name="EMAIL" class="input_neue required email" id="mce-EMAIL" placeholder="enter your email here"> <input type="submit" value="Submit" name="subscribe" id="mc-embedded-subscribe" class="btn_neue"> </div> <div style="position: absolute; left: -5000px;"><input type="text" name="b_3d0ce87edeeb6df90043897db_68501b81bf" tabindex="-1" value=""></div> </form> </section> <section class="ad_container sidebar_block"> <div class="sponsor_image_holder"> <div class="ad adunit tablet standard" data-dimensions="300x250" data-adunit="TexasTribune_Content_StoryPage_ATF_RightRail1_MediumRectangle_300x250"> </div> </div> </section> <section class="sidebar_block content_list"> <header> <h1>New on the Trib</h1> </header> <dl> <dt> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/19/inside-texas-politics-finance-primary/">Inside Texas Politics: The Finance Primary</a> </dt> <dd> <ul class="meta short separator relative-time"><li class="byline"> by <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/john-jordan/">John Jordan</a></li><li><time datetime="Sun, 19 Apr 2015 12:41:29 -0500" title="2015-04-19 12:41"> April 19, 2015 </time></li><li class="comments"><a class="comments" href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/19/inside-texas-politics-finance-primary/comments/"><span class="value">2</span><span class="label">Comments</span></a></li></ul> </dd> <dt> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/19/texas-operatives-prominent-2016-campaigns/">Texas Operatives Prominent in 2016 Campaigns</a> </dt> <dd> <ul class="meta short separator relative-time"><li class="byline"> by <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/abby-livingston/">Abby Livingston</a> and <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/annie-daniel/">Annie Daniel</a></li><li><time datetime="Sun, 19 Apr 2015 06:00:00 -0500" title="2015-04-19 06:00"> April 19, 2015 </time></li><li class="comments"><a class="comments" href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/19/texas-operatives-prominent-2016-campaigns/comments/"><span class="value">4</span><span class="label">Comments</span></a></li></ul> </dd> <dt> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/18/playlist-week-lege/">Playlist: A Week in the Lege</a> </dt> <dd> <ul class="meta short separator relative-time"><li class="byline"> by <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/john-jordan/">John Jordan</a></li><li><time datetime="Sat, 18 Apr 2015 19:27:33 -0500" title="2015-04-18 19:27"> April 18, 2015 </time></li></ul> </dd> <dt> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/18/cruz-serves-red-meat-gop-activists-new-hampshire/">Cruz Serves Red Meat to GOP Activists in N.H.</a> </dt> <dd> <ul class="meta short separator relative-time"><li class="byline"> by <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/patrick-svitek/">Patrick Svitek</a></li><li><time datetime="Sat, 18 Apr 2015 14:24:55 -0500" title="2015-04-18 14:24"> April 18, 2015 </time></li><li class="comments"><a class="comments" href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/18/cruz-serves-red-meat-gop-activists-new-hampshire/comments/"><span class="value">67</span><span class="label">Comments</span></a></li></ul> </dd> </dl> </section> <section class="ad_container sidebar_block"> <div class="sponsor_image_holder"> <div class="ad adunit tablet standard" data-dimensions="300x250" data-adunit="TexasTribune_Content_StoryPage_BTF_RightRail2_MediumRectangle_300x250"> </div> </div> </section> <aside id="the_most" class="featurebox "> <header class="featurebox-header"> <h1><span>The</span>Most</h1> </header> <div class="featurebox-content tabs ui-tabs"> <ul class="ui-tabs-nav"> <li class="most_shared"> <a href="#most_shared">Shared</a> </li> <li class="most_viewed"> <a href="#most_viewed">Viewed</a> </li> <li class="most_commented"> <a href="#most_commented">Commented</a> </li> </ul> <div id="most_shared" class="ui-tabs-panel"> <div class="fb_like_box"> <fb:recommendations site="texastribune.org" data-action="like" width="310" height="260" header="false" border_color="#fff"></fb:recommendations> </div> </div> <div id="most_viewed" class="ui-tabs-panel ui-tabs-hide"> <ol> <li> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/17/open-carry-gets-initial-approval-texas-house/">Open Carry Wins Initial Approval in Texas House</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/19/texas-operatives-prominent-2016-campaigns/">Texas Operatives Prominent in 2016 Campaigns</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/17/feds-warn-texas-expand-medicaid-or-risk-hospital-f/">Feds Warn Texas: Expand Medicaid or Risk Hospital Funds</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/17/texas-house-drill-denton-fracking-bill/">Texas House Approves "Denton Fracking Bill"</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/17/terrell-state-psychiatrists-resign-after-accusatio/">Terrell State Psychiatrists Resign After Accusations</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/16/sharp-requests-resignations-all-m-vice-presidents/">A&M Chancellor Requests Resignation Letters at Flagship Campus</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/library/data/texas-prisons/">Texas Prison Inmates</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/18/opposition-gay-conversion-therapy-grows/">Opposition to Gay Conversion Therapy Grows</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/public-ed/explore/">Public Schools Explorer</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/18/cruz-serves-red-meat-gop-activists-new-hampshire/">Cruz Serves Red Meat to GOP Activists in N.H.</a> </li> </ol> </div> <div id="most_commented" class="ui-tabs-panel ui-tabs-hide"> <ol> <li> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/17/open-carry-gets-initial-approval-texas-house/">Open Carry Wins Initial Approval in Texas House</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/17/texas-house-drill-denton-fracking-bill/">Texas House Approves "Denton Fracking Bill"</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/18/cruz-serves-red-meat-gop-activists-new-hampshire/">Cruz Dishes Out Red Meat for Republican Activists in New Hampshire</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/17/rick-perry-new-hampshire/">In N.H. Speech, Perry Targets Clinton on Foreign Policy</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/17/feds-warn-texas-expand-medicaid-or-risk-hospital-f/">Federal Officials Warn Texas: Expand Medicaid or Risk Hospital Funds</a> </li> </ol> </div> </div> <footer class="clearfix featurebox-footer"> <div class="ad adunit tablet standard" data-dimensions="200x38" data-adunit="TexasTribune_Content_TheMostWidget_Bottom_Text_200x38"> </div> </footer> </aside> <section class="ad_container sidebar_block"> <div class="sponsor_image_holder"> <div class="ad adunit tablet standard" data-dimensions="300x250" data-adunit="TexasTribune_Content_StoryPage_BTF_RightRail3_MediumRectangle_300x250"> </div> </div> </section> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="wrapper-r"> <footer id="site_footer" class="wrapper-r"> <div class="hide-for-medium-down"> <div class="ad adunit tablet standard" data-dimensions="728x90" data-adunit="TexasTribune_Content_StoryLanding_BTF_Footer_Leaderboard_728x90"> </div> </div> <div id="footer" class="grid"> <dl id="staff_writers" class="cell w-3"> <dt>Writers</dt> <div class="cell w-6"> <dd> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/becca-aaronson/">Becca Aaronson</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/julian-aguilar/">Juli谩n Aguilar</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/christine-ayala/">Christine Ayala</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/aman-batheja/">Aman Batheja</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/bobby-blanchard/">Bobby Blanchard</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/annie-daniel/">Annie Daniel</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/justin-dehn/">Justin Dehn</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/rodney-gibbs/">Rodney Gibbs</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/eva-hershaw/">Eva Hershaw</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/john-jordan/">John Jordan</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/terri-langford/">Terri Langford</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/abby-livingston/">Abby Livingston</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/corrie-maclaggan/">Corrie MacLaggan</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jim-malewitz/">Jim Malewitz</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/ryan-mccrimmon/">Ryan McCrimmon</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jolie-mccullough/">Jolie McCullough</a> </dd> </div> <div class="cell w-6"> <dd> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/ayan-mittra/">Ayan Mittra</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/ryan-murphy/">Ryan Murphy</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/david-muto/">David Muto</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/david-pasztor/">David Pasztor</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/ross-ramsey/">Ross Ramsey</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/emily-ramshaw/">Emily Ramshaw</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/reynolds-john/">John Reynolds</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/rocha-alana/">Alana Rocha</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jay-root/">Jay Root</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/neena-satija/">Neena Satija</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/evan-smith/">Evan Smith</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/morgan-smith/">Morgan Smith</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/patrick-svitek/">Patrick Svitek</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/alexa-ura/">Alexa Ura</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/edgar-walters/">Edgar Walters</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/matthew-watkins/">Matthew Watkins</a> </dd> </div> </dl> <div id="footer_topics" class="cell w-3"> <h6>Sections</h6> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/economy/" data-section="economy"> Economy </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/education/" data-section="education"> Education </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/energy-and-environment/" data-section="energy-and-environment"> Energy & Environment</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/government/" data-section="government"> Government </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/health-and-human-services/" data-section="health-and-human-services"> Health & Human Services </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/law-and-order/" data-section="law-and-order"> Law & Order </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/people/" data-section="people"> People </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/politics/" data-section="politics"> Politics </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/race-and-immigration/" data-section="race-and-immigration"> Race & Immigration </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/transportation/" data-section="transportation"> Transportation </a></li> </ul> </div> <dl id="offsite_outlets" class="cell w-3"> <dt>TT Social Media</dt> <dd> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150420063742/http://facebook.com/texastribune" title="Facebook" class="external"><span class="favicon facebook"></span>Facebook</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150420063742/http://twitter.com/texastribune" title="Twitter" class="external"><span class="favicon twitter"></span>Twitter</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150420063742/http://youtube.com/user/thetexastribune" title="YouTube" class="external"><span class="favicon youtube"></span>YouTube</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150420063742/http://instagram.com/texas_tribune" title="Instagram" class="external"><span class="favicon instagram"></span>Instagram</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150420063742/http://www.linkedin.com/company/texas-tribune" title="LinkedIn" class="external"><span class="favicon linkedin"></span>LinkedIn</a> </dd> <dd class="hidden"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150420063742/https://plus.google.com/116406259333166116089" class="external" rel="publisher">Google+</a> </dd> </dl> <ul id="footer_nav" class="cell w-3"> <li>© 2015 The Texas Tribune</li> <li> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/about/" title="About Us">About Us</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/support-us/donors-and-members/" title="Who Funds Us?">Who Funds Us?</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/terms-of-service/" title="Terms of Service">Terms of Service</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/ethics/" title="Code of Ethics">Code of Ethics</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/privacy/" title="Privacy Policy">Privacy Policy</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1c75726d69756e75796f5c6879647d6f686e757e69727932736e7b" title="Contact Us">Contact Us</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/corrections/" title="Corrections">Corrections</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/feeds/" title="Feeds">Feeds</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/mobile/" title="Mobile">Mobile</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/advertise/" class="advertise">Advertise</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/signup/" title="Newsletter Signup">Newsletter Signup</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150420063742/http://www.texastribune.org/donate/" title="Donate" class="donate">Donate</a> </li> </ul> </div> </footer> </div> <div class="hide-for-medium-down"> <div class="ad adunit tablet standard" data-dimensions="1x1" data-adunit="TexasTribune_Content_StoryPage_Invisible_1x1"> </div> </div> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150420063742js_/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/COMPRESSED/js/38cc1e8308b2.js"></script> <script> tt.ads.addTarget("content", "story"); tt.ads.addTarget("slug", "bill-would-allow-special-needs-students-"); tt.ads.addTarget("sections", ["front-page/"]); try { tt.ads.addTarget("is_member", "no"); tt.ads.addTarget("logged_in", "no"); var tt = tt || {}; tt.username = ''; } catch(e) {} </script> <script type="text/javascript"> window._tpm = window._tpm || []; window._tpm['paywallID'] = '36783210'; window._tpm['trackPageview'] = true; </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150420063742js_/http://code.tinypass.com/tpl/d1/tpm.js"></script> <script> (function(){ function loadAddThis() { var addthis = document.createElement('script'); addthis.src = document.location.protocol+'//web.archive.org/web/20150420063742/http://s7.addthis.com/js/300/addthis_widget.js#pubid=ra-53beb39e1b9725fb&domready=1'; addthis.type = 'text/javascript'; addthis.async = true; var at = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; at.parentNode.insertBefore(addthis, at); } window.onload(loadAddThis()); })(); </script> <script type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150420063742js_/http://bit.ly/javascript-api.js?version=latest&login=texastribune&apiKey=R_6f6057d6b4eb2cded750a1bfde821d16"></script> <div id="parsely-root" style="display: none"> <div id="parsely-cfg" data-parsely-site="texastribune.org"></div> </div> <script> (function(s, p, d) { var h=d.location.protocol, i=p+"-"+s, e=d.getElementById(i), r=d.getElementById(p+"-root"), u=h==="https:"?"d1z2jf7jlzjs58.cloudfront.net" :"static."+p+".com"; if (e) return; e = d.createElement(s); e.id = i; e.async = true; e.src = h+"//"+u+"/p.js"; r.appendChild(e); })("script", "parsely", document); </script> <script type="text/javascript"> _qevents.push( { qacct:"p-f74d4O38hiiiM"} ); </script> <noscript> <div style="display: none;"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150420063742im_/http://pixel.quantserve.com/pixel/p-f74d4O38hiiiM.gif" height="1" width="1" alt="Quantcast"/> </div> </noscript> <script type="text/javascript"> var _sf_async_config={}; /** CONFIGURATION START **/ _sf_async_config.uid = 14324; _sf_async_config.domain = 'texastribune.org'; if (window.tt && tt.currentPage) { if (tt.currentPage.sections) { _sf_async_config.sections = tt.currentPage.sections.join(','); } if (tt.currentPage.authors) { _sf_async_config.authors = tt.currentPage.authors.join(','); } else if (tt.currentPage.authorsText) { _sf_async_config.authors = tt.currentPage.authorsText; } } /** CONFIGURATION END **/ (function(){ function loadChartbeat() { window._sf_endpt=(new Date()).getTime(); var e = document.createElement('script'); e.setAttribute('language', 'javascript'); e.setAttribute('type', 'text/javascript'); e.setAttribute('src', (('https:' == document.location.protocol) ? 'https://web.archive.org/web/20150420063742/https://a248.e.akamai.net/chartbeat.download.akamai.com/102508/' : 'https://web.archive.org/web/20150420063742/http://static.chartbeat.com/') + 'js/chartbeat.js'); document.body.appendChild(e); } var oldonload = window.onload; window.onload = (typeof window.onload != 'function') ? loadChartbeat : function() { oldonload(); loadChartbeat(); }; })(); </script> <script> (function() { jQuery.scrollDepth(); })(); </script> <script type="text/javascript"> /* <![CDATA[ */ (function(){try{var s,a,i,j,r,c,l=document.getElementsByTagName("a"),t=document.createElement("textarea");for(i=0;l.length-i;i++){try{a=l[i].getAttribute("href");if(a&&a.indexOf("/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection") > -1 && (a.length > 28)){s='';j=27+ 1 + a.indexOf("/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection");if (a.length > j) {r=parseInt(a.substr(j,2),16);for(j+=2;a.length>j&&a.substr(j,1)!='X';j+=2){c=parseInt(a.substr(j,2),16)^r;s+=String.fromCharCode(c);}j+=1;s+=a.substr(j,a.length-j);}t.innerHTML=s.replace(/</g,"<").replace(/>/g,">");l[i].setAttribute("href","mailto:"+t.value);}}catch(e){}}}catch(e){}})(); /* ]]> */ </script> </body> </html>