The Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired serves students with visual impairments and must provide statewide services; it may also run supplemental programs, operate a canteen, and assess students when requested.
Sec. 30.021. PURPOSE OF TEXAS SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED. (a) The Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired is a state agency established to serve as a special school in the continuum of statewide alternative placements for students who are 21 years of age or younger on September 1 of any school year and who have a visual impairment and who may have one or more other disabilities. The school is intended to serve students who require specialized or intensive educational or related services related to the visual impairment. The school is not intended to serve: (1) students whose needs are appropriately addressed in a home or hospital setting or in a residential treatment facility; or (2) students whose primary, ongoing needs are related to a severe or profound emotional, behavioral, or cognitive deficit. (b) The school district in which a student resides is responsible for assuring that a free appropriate public education is provided to each district student placed in the regular school year program of the school and that all legally required meetings for the purpose of developing and reviewing the student's individualized educational program are conducted. If the school disagrees with a district's individualized education program committee recommendation that a student be evaluated for placement, initially placed, or continued to be placed at the school, the district or the school may seek resolution according to a procedure established by the commissioner or through any due process hearing to which the district or school is entitled under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. Section 1400 et seq.). (c) The school shall conduct supplemental programs, such as summer programs and student exchange programs, and shall consider information from sources throughout the state regarding the nature of those programs and students to be served. (d) The school shall provide statewide services to parents of students with visual impairments, school districts, regional education service centers, and other agencies serving students with visual impairments, including students who have one or more disabilities in addition to the visual impairment, such as students who are deaf-blind. Those services must include: (1) developing and providing local, regional, and statewide training for parents of students with visual impairments and professionals who work with persons with visual impairments; (2) providing consultation and technical assistance to parents and professionals related to special education and related services for students; (3) developing and disseminating reference materials including materials in the areas of curriculum, instructional methodology, and educational technology; (4) providing information related to library resources, adapted materials, current research, technology resources, and teaching, assessment, and transition of students with visual impairments; (5) operating programs for lending educational and technological materials to school districts and regional education service centers; and (6) facilitating the preparation of teachers for visually impaired students by providing assistance to colleges and universities as well as other teacher preparation programs. (e) The school shall cooperate with public and private agencies and organizations serving students and other persons with visual impairments in the planning, development, and implementation of effective educational and rehabilitative service delivery systems associated with educating students with visual impairments. To maximize and make efficient use of state facilities, funding, and resources, the services provided in this area may include conducting a cooperative program with other agencies to serve students who have graduated from high school by completing all academic requirements applicable to students in general education, excluding satisfactory performance under Section 39.025, who are younger than 22 years of age on September 1 of the school year and who have identified needs related to vocational training, independent living skills, orientation and mobility, social and leisure skills, compensatory skills, or remedial academic skills. (f) The school may operate an on-campus canteen to offer food service at mealtimes and during other times of the day. (g) If a school district or another educational entity requests an assessment of a student's educational or related needs related to visual impairment, the school may conduct an assessment and charge a reasonable fee for the assessment. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 260, Sec. 1, eff. May 30, 1995. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1341, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Amended by: Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 680 (S.B. 189), Sec. 1, eff. June 17, 2005. Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1312 (S.B. 1031), Sec. 6, eff. September 1, 2007. Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1065 (H.B. 2), Sec. 4.48, eff. June 20, 2025. Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1137 (S.B. 568), Sec. 48, eff. June 20, 2025.