- Houston Independent School District
- Specialized Learning Division
Special Populations
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How We Support Students
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The primary responsibility of the Office of Specialized Learning & Services is to provide quality programs and services to diverse groups of students in special populations. Special Populations are student groups that require instructional support beyond what general education provides. The Office of Specialized Learning & Services consists of Gifted and Talented, Multilingual Programs, RTI/Intervention, Early Childhood/HIPPY and the After School Programs.
Our programs and services promote equity and success while preparing special population students for college and/or their careers. We ensure district and campus leaders are provided with the appropriate resources, services, and programs available for students identified as English Learners (EL), Immigrant, Refugee, Migrant, Gifted & Talented (G/T), and students referred to the Intervention Assistance Team (IAT).
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Welcome, Lisa Franke, Executive Director
FAQS
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What is Dyslexia?
Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is neurobiological in origin. It is characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities. These difficulties typically result from a deficit in the phonological component of language that is often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom instruction. Secondary consequences may include problems in reading comprehension and reduced reading experience that can impede the growth of vocabulary and background knowledge.
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How can I best support my English learner during COVID 19?
- The Multilingual Programs department is committed to providing supplemental support to parents and campuses during COVID 19 and beyond. Please visit https://www.houstonisd.org/Page/184314 for linguistic accommodation resources, along with digital instructional resources for parents and students.
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How do I request testing for Special Education Services?
A parent may request an initial evaluation at any time if the parent believes that his or her child is a child with a disability in need of special education and related services.
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How to request G/T evaluation for my current HISD student?
Please contact your campus G/T coordinator to request testing. Please email GiftedandTalented@houstonisd.org for additional assistance.
