Your Student Might be Eligible for a $1,500 Grant from TEA!
School districts are required to share information on the Texas Education Agency’s Parent-Directed Special Education Services (PDSES) grant program every year! This program allows parents of eligible students to apply to receive as much as $1,500 as a one time only grant award that they can use at their discretion (within approved providers and vendors) and in service to their child’s unique needs. This school year, the application window is open from 8 am CST on April 1, 2026 through 5 pm CST on April 30, 2026.
School districts most often meet this requirement for sharing the information with families in one of three ways (although it can be shared in a variety of ways):
They include this information on the district web page.
They send a mass communication to district families via email.
They share the information during your child’s annual ARD meeting.
However,
families don’t often visit the district web page unless there is something that prompts the need,
families are often inundated with email communications throughout the year and can miss it,
a child’s annual ARD meeting may take place too soon before the application window opens and families may forget about it, or
a child’s annual ARD is taking place after the application window has already closed forcing families to have to wait until the next school year when the pattern continues which delays their ability to access those funds.
As a result, please find information here on how to remain informed this 2025-2026 school year, access information, and apply so that you do not miss out on a great opportunity to fund additional needs your child may have outside of normal school hours! If your child is currently enrolled in a Texas public school (PK-12th grade), receives services via an Individualized Educational Plan (IEP), and you have never received this grant for your child in the past, your child may be eligible to receive one this school year!
Here’s what you need to know and where you can access the information!
Application window is April 1, 2026 through April 30, 2026.
Access general information about the program here in English and here in Spanish including eligibility criteria, application process required, approved providers/vendors, and how to follow up on your application.
Join the email interest list here to receive up to date information directly from TEA related to this program.
Access a one page overview of the program here in English and here in Spanish. This one pager also includes a link to additional information on how applicants are prioritized int he application process.
Access a one page overview of the application process here in English and here in Spanish.
Access an instruction manual for the application process and parent portal access here in English and here in Spanish.
When and if approved, you can then access a one pager on how to purchase goods and services for your child utilizing the grant funds here in English and here in Spanish.
If needed, you can also access a video informational video on the program here in English and here in Spanish. Although referencing the Supplemental Special Education Services Program in the video, this is the name for this program before being changed to PDSES and, as a result, TEA indicates on its web page that “The following videos do not use the new PDSES logo or name, but are still relevant and accurate resources for the PDSES program. ‘Any reference to Supplemental Special Education Services Program, supplemental special education services, supplemental special education services instructional materials, or SSES in state law and TEA materials is to be considered synonymous with the PDSES program.’ §102.1601(a).”
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