HISD Online Course for Parents / Support for Special Populations

Support for Special Populations

HISD is committed to providing equal access to the same opportunities and lessons afforded to all students during virtual learning. The Office of Special Populations ensures district and campus leaders are provided with the appropriate resources, services, and programs available for students in need of the following services: Special Education, Section 504, Dyslexia, Multilingual, Interventions, Virtual Schools and Gifted and Talented.

If your student is receiving special populations services, they will continue to receive technology, services, accommodations, and modifications required by their IEP, Section 504, and campus-determined supports during virtual learning.

Click on the tabs below to learn more.

Parents of Students Served by Special Education

Knowing that the nature of special education interventions will likely require additional layers of support during virtual learning, therefore your student will receive individualized support from a special education case manager to ensure that their individual needs are met. If there are services, accommodations, and modifications required by the student’s IEP that cannot be provided during virtual learning, the student’s ARD committee must determine which services it can provide to meet the student’s needs (34 CFR 300.324(a)(4).

During virtual learning, ARD Committees will continue to meet to determine the unique needs of students who receive special education services. As a parent, you will need to attend your student’s ARD meetings virtually and serve as an active participant in virtual ARD meetings via Microsoft Teams, email, or phone communications in which you will receive digital copies of your student’s IEP.

In addition, you will be able to access the following:
- Support with HISD Parent Connect and HISD@H.O.M.E.
- Digital copies of student’s IEP and procedural safeguards.
- The Parent’s Guide to the Admission, Review, and Dismissal Process
- A student's special education support system such as a teacher, case manager, department chair or campus administrator.
- Translation services
- Child Find Services
Students served by special education will have the same access to digital tools as general education students. The digital tools available to students contain features to support student learning and may include the ability to read text to students. Additionally, specific online platforms, such as Imagine Math and Imagine Literacy, provide individualized learning pathways tailored to each student’s educational need. We recommend that your student log on to use these digital tools daily.

Expectations of Students Served by Special Education
- Attend Microsoft Teams live class meetings
- Access lessons and submit assignments in the HUB or as determined by your student’s IEP
- Access to Microsoft Teams with non-disabled peers to the extent possible as determined by your student’s IEP per the ARD committee.
- Access teacher, co-teacher, and/or paraprofessional as determined by your student’s schedule of services outlined in the IEP
- Access individualized curriculum and programs such as the Unique curriculum, Imagine Language and Literacy, Imagine Math as determined by your student’s IEP
- Access supplemental aids, accommodations, modifications, designated supports, assistive technology as determined by the ARD Committee and outlined in your student’s IEP.
- Access virtual related services as determined by your student’s ARD committee.
Special Education Resources
Parents of Students Served by Section 504

Here are some supports for parents of students served by Section 504:
- Attend virtual 504 meetings
- Access to the digital copies of your student’s 504 plans
Parents of students served by Section 504 are expected to:
- Access support with HISD Parent Connect and HISD @ H.O.M.E.
- Communicate with the campus 504 Coordinator for student accommodations
- Access the digital copies of your student’s 504 plans
Parents of Students with Dyslexia

Here are some supports for parents of students with dyslexia:
- Access to support with HISD Parent Connect and HISD @ H.O.M.E.
- Student access to Nessy.com and Neuhaus Academy
- Access to parent webinars, accommodated instructional materials/supplemental aids, strategies, and assistive technologies which are located on the dyslexia home page www.houstonisd.org/dyslexia
Parents are expected to:
- Communicate with the designated campus dyslexia interventionist for services
- Support their dyslexia student in accessing Nessy.com and Neuhaus Academy with the support of the dyslexia specialist
Parents of Students of English Learners

Here are some supports for parents of English Learners:
- Access to support with HISD Parent Connect and HISD @ H.O.M.E.
- Access to Home Language Survey in 16 home languages
- Access to LPAC administrator for program placement, approval/denial of placement
Parents of ELs are expected to:
- Communicate with the campus LPAC administrator for program placement, approval/denial of placement
- Communicate with the campus Language Proficiency Assessment Committee (LPAC) administrator via Microsoft Teams, email or phone conversation
- Participate in virtual meetings with teachers regarding their student’s progress
- Access the Multilingual Programs Department for more information
Resources
- TEA English Learner Guidance
Parents of Migrant Students

Here are some expectations of parents of migrant students:
- Meet with Migrant Program Representatives virtually to complete the Certificate of Eligibility (COE)
- Communicate with Migrant Program Representative and tutors regarding the academic progress of Priority First Students (PFS)
- Attend virtual parent meetings
Resources
- TEA Migrant Resources
Parents of Gifted/Talented Students

Your student will continue to receive G/T support using virtual G/T Class Meetings as determined by your student’s campus. Please communicate with the campus G/T coordinator for specifics regarding G/T services.

Parents are expected to:
- Attend virtual GT meetings
- Access digital copies of G/T documents provided by teachers
- Communicate with Campus G/T Coordinator for G/T services.
- Access parent supports via HISD Parent Connect and HISD@H.O.M.E.
Parents of Students Served by the Intervention Assistance Team

Some supports for parents of students guided by the IAT:
- The Interventions Office website for current information
- Imagine Learning Webinars for Parents
Parents of students guided by the IAT are expected to:
- Attend virtual IAT meetings using Microsoft Teams or phone communication
- Access digital copies of the IAT documents
- Communicate with the campus liaison to request for IAT referral and/or evaluation
- Contact campus designated support staff for assistive technologies, service providers and digital platforms
- Communicate with teachers using HISD Parent Connect