Special Education Day and Residential Programs

About Special Education Day and Residential Programs

A local education agency (LEA) may contract for a day or residential placement when a student’s admission, review, and dismissal (ARD) committee determines that placement is necessary for the student to receive a free appropriate public education (FAPE).

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) entitles a student with a disability to a free, appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment. When a student has educational needs that cannot be met in a public school setting, that student can be educated in a private school or facility at public expense. A student’s admission, review, and dismissal (ARD) committee must determine that the school district or charter school cannot provide the student with the special education instruction and related services necessary to meet the student’s unique needs for that student to be educated in a day or residential program.

The LEA is responsible for ensuring students placed in or referred to day or residential programs are provided with special education and related services that meet federal and state special education program requirements under 19 Texas Administrative Code §89.1092 (for educational residential placements), and 19 TAC §89.1094 (for day placements). Placement in a day or residential program is considered a more segregated educational environment than placement in a public school setting. Federal regulations and State Board of Education/Commissioner’s rules protect the rights of students in such placements. Day and residential programs that provide special education are monitored by 7m��Ƶ to ensure compliance with federal and state standards.

Announcements and Updates

Day and Residential Programs Summer Workshop

Please see the agenda and (also printed in the agenda) for the 2026 7m��Ƶ Special Education Day and Residential Programs Summer Workshop, held virtually by Zoom on Wednesday, July 22, 2026.

Session topics, presented by members of the 7m��Ƶ SPED Day and Residential Programs team, include:

Minimum standards for day/residential program providers
Day/residential program approval process updates
Day placement program cooperative funding allotment
Legislative updates and new LEA/provider requirements
Program resources overview and updates

Sessions are open to both LEA/ESC representatives, and to day and residential program providers. A recommended audience for each session is listed in the agenda.

Day Placement Program Cooperative Funding Allotment

Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, House Bill 2 (HB 2), passed by the 89th Texas Legislature, authorized 7m��Ƶ to award funds to qualifying day placement programs. Additional information is available in the To the Administator Addressed Correspondance dated May 14, 2026 and in the information and guidance section below.

APEX Applications

The 2025-2026 APEX application opened for beginning-of-year submissions on 9/2/2025. The beginning-of-year submission deadline (for continuing placements, summer placements, and beginning-of-year placements) was 10/3/2025. All other APEX applications are due within 30 days of student placement/change of placement.

September 2025

Day Placement Program Cooperative Funding Allotment

Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, House Bill 2 (HB 2), passed by the 89th Texas Legislature, authorized 7m��Ƶ to award funds to qualifying day placement programs.