SECTION 89.1125. Allowable Expenditures of State Special Education Funds

(a) Persons paid from special education funds shall be assigned to instructional or other duties in the special education program and/or to provide support services to the regular education program in order for students with disabilities to be included in the regular program. Support services shall include, but not be limited to, collaborative planning, co-teaching, small group instruction with special and regular education students, direct instruction to special education students, or other support services determined necessary by the admission, review, and dismissal (ARD) committee for an appropriate program for the student with disabilities. Assignments may include duties supportive to school operations equivalent to those assigned to regular education personnel.

(b) Personnel assigned to provide support services to the regular education program as stated in subsection (a) of this section may be fully funded from special education funds.

(c) If personnel are assigned to special education on less than a full-time basis, except as stated in subsection (a) of this section, only that portion of time for which the personnel are assigned to students with disabilities shall be paid from state special education funds.

(d) State special education funds may be used for special materials, supplies, and equipment which are directly related to the development and implementation of individualized education programs (IEPs) of students and which are not ordinarily purchased for the regular classroom. Office and routine classroom supplies are not allowable. Special equipment may include instructional and assistive technology devices, audiovisual equipment, computers for instruction or assessment purposes, and assessment equipment only if used directly with students.

(e) State special education funds may be used to contract with consultants to provide staff development, program planning and evaluation, instructional services, assessments, and related services to students with disabilities.

(f) State special education funds may be used for transportation only to and from residential placements. Prior to using federal funds for transportation costs to and from a residential facility, a district must use state or local funds based on actual expenses up to the state transportation maximum for private transportation contracts.

(g) State special education funds may be used to pay staff travel to perform services directly related to the education of eligible students with disabilities. Funds may also be used to pay travel of staff (including administrators, general education teachers, and special education teachers and service providers) to attend staff development meetings for the purpose of improving performance in assigned positions directly related to the education of eligible students with disabilities. In no event shall the purpose for attending such staff development meetings include time spent in performing functions relating to the operation of professional organizations. Funds may also be used to pay for the joint training of parents and special education, related services, and general education personnel.

Source Note: The provisions of this §89.1125 adopted to be effective September 1, 1996, 21 TexReg 7240; amended to be effective March 6, 2001, 26 TexReg 1837; amended to be effective November 11, 2007, 32 TexReg 8129