Child Find Update: Children Who Transfer or Recently Registered
When a student receiving special education services transfers to another district within Texas or from another state, both the sending and receiving school districts maintain responsibility for providing a smooth and timely transition of services. Previously, the process for implementing Individualized Education Plans (IEP) differed depending on the date the student transferred to the new district. Receiving districts had 20 school days from the date of verification of special education services to accept and implement the IEP from the previous district or convene an Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) Committee meeting to review and establish a new IEP. If the student registered during the summer and the receiving district verified services prior to the first day of school, the district had to accept the IEP or hold an ARD Committee meeting to establish a new one prior to the first day of school.
In recent years, Texas districts struggled with timeline requirements to convene ARD Committee meetings before the first day of school for students who register during the summer. Staff availability, parent schedules, and shortened timelines made this requirement difficult for everyone involved. However, in July 2024, the Texas Education Agency removed the requirement to hold ARD Committee meetings prior to the first day of school for students who register during the summer. The new regulations allow districts to follow the same transfer process and timelines for students who register in the summer or those who transfer after the first day of school.
Transfer Timelines
Texas school districts must accept the student’s IEP from the previous district or implement a new IEP within 20 school days of verifying the student as eligible for special education services. Verifying services means the district receives a copy of the student’s current IEP from the previous district. If the receiving district cannot verify eligibility through receipt of the IEP, the district should make good faith efforts to collaborate with the parent to obtain the documents. Districts can request records from another Texas district through the Texas Records Exchange, commonly known as TRex. Districts can request and/or receive out of state records by facsimile, email, or regular mail.
If informed by the previous district that the student receives special education services, the district must take reasonable steps to provide the student with comparable services while waiting for receipt of IEP records.
Next Steps
Districts should train staff on new transfer requirements. ARD Committee meeting and membership procedures for all meetings should include required staff, proper parent notification, and prior written notice. Districts should also document transfer processes in their special education operating procedures.
Mary McFarlin
Mary McFarlin is a senior consultant for TASB Student Solutions.
With more than 15 years of experience in public education, primarily in special education, McFarlin brings valuable experience to the Student Solutions team. She has worked as a SHARS administrator, PEIMS and records management specialist, coordinated ECI transitions, and handled SPP data collection and reporting. McFarlin is a certified Texas vision and hearing screener with experience screening students with disabilities ages 2-21. She enjoys sharing her knowledge of special populations and systematic organization with TASB members across the state through full program and folder reviews, and workload staffing analyses.