Lorene Dillard Advocacy and Consulting

06/11/2025

Spring STAAR Results are now available!

AUSTIN, Texas – June 10, 2025 – The Texas Education Agency (TEA) today released the spring 2025 results for the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR®) high school End-of-Course (EOC) assessments. These results are a key measure of how Texas students are performing in Algebra ...

05/02/2025

As the 2024-2025 school year comes to an end, what was your child's biggest success story this year?!

03/11/2025

Parents applaud the move as much needed even as school district voice concerns about adequate funding.

03/05/2025

Registration is live. NCSA is proud to host the Child Mind Institute presenting a vital webinar on profound autism featuring CMI's distinguished experts Dr. Cynthia Martin, Dr. Stephanie Ruggiero, and Dr. Jason Sarte.

Join us to learn more about the latest research and clinical approaches for children and adolescents with profound presentations of autism. A multidisciplinary panel will discuss strategies for conducting thorough evaluations that map out each child's strengths and weaknesses, managing co-occurring psychiatric and medical conditions, and addressing severe behaviors that negatively impact health and quality of life.

📅 March 5, 2025
⏰ 7:00-8:30pm ET
💻 Virtual Event (Zoom)
🎟️ Free Registration ncsautism.org/cmi

Includes live Q&A session with CMI's expert panel.

02/24/2025

https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2025/02/24/trumps-pick-for-education-secretary-proposes-offloading-special-ed/31314/

As President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the U.S. Department of Education moves toward confirmation, her knowledge of special education and her plans for the program are raising concerns.

02/13/2025

https://www.wrightslaw.com/speak/25.03.va.htm
I have been to these a few times and they are just wonderful! Here is a fantastic opportunity to participate via ZOOM!

Wrightslaw special education law and advocacy training programs are designed to meet the needs of parents, advocates, attorneys, educators, health care providers, and others who represent the interests of children with disabilities and their families

02/13/2025

https://foxsanantonio.com/amp/newsletter-daily/texas-education-agency-seeks-17-million-to-tackle-teacher-misconduct-surge-investigation-state-board-district

SAN ANTONIO — The Texas Education Agency (TEA) is requesting $17 million to address a significant rise in teacher misconduct investigations. This request follow

01/09/2025

https://www.npr.org/2025/01/09/nx-s1-5234657/special-education-integration-disabilities-school

Research shows including students with and without disabilities in the same classroom can benefit everyone. Two students with Down syndrome show what can be gained when that happens.

05/30/2024

Parents in the Rockport/Fulton area!

03/21/2024

For those who have loved ones receiving Recreational Therapy from the CLASS program (which is a Medicaid Waiver Program) - such as my boys, PLEASE take a moment and contact ASAP today by 5:00 PM TODAY! This is an URGENT MATTER! I just found out about this 10 min ago! This service is LIFE CHANGING for SO MANY! Please take the 5 minutes to help the disability community! Help those who truly rely on others to help them! If my boys loose this service, they will loose years of benefit and progress!

Attached is a draft policy for Medicaid exclusions, and it includes recreational therapy as a service Medicaid will not pay for. This negatively impacts CLASS clients receiving recreational therapy. Public comment is due by 5 PM today. Below is the email for you to give your comment. Please contact them and ask that CLASS be an exemption and Recreational Therapy still be provided. Tell your story and how important these services are to you and your family. Act fast and save recreational therapy in the CLASS program.
Email today.

MCDMedicalBenefitsPolicyComment@hhsc.state.tx.us

01/21/2024

I am asked so very often by parents why they are having such a difficult time accessing an evaluation for their child. Many are frustrated with 1. Getting the campus to even respond to their request or 2. Getting the district to complete the evaluation within the 45 day timeline. Here is an article which will provide insight into what is occurring in districts around the state.

Schools are dealing with backlogs and financial strains as they also struggle to retain psychologists.

01/18/2024

More reporting on the cut in SHARS funding. Again, this is the funding districts were utilizing for reimbursement from Medicaid.
For those who understand the never ending battle of “educational vs medical” will understand the exceptional frustration with this and the manner in which parents are denied services every single day as they are told their child need is “medical”… and in the next breath being asked to sign the SHARS Medicaid billing form.

https://www.expressnews.com/opinion/editorial/article/special-education-funds-texas-abbott-lege-18609409.php