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Who can complete the Parent-Directed Special Education Services (PDSES) application?

Applications must be submitted by the student's parent, defined as “a resident of this state who is a natural or adoptive parent, managing or possessory conservator, legal guardian, custodian, or other person with legal authority to act on behalf of (the) child” ()

Note: Only one parent can apply for each student. The first to add their student to their parent profile will be allowed to apply - the system will not allow the student to be added to more than one parent profile.

Is my student currently eligible for the PDSES program?

To receive a PDSES grant, your student must be eligible at the time you submit your application and remain eligible throughout the grant period. To be eligible, your student must:

• be currently enrolled in a Texas public school, grades Pre-K - 12th (including 18+ programs),
• be receiving special education services through an individualized education program (IEP), AND
• have not received a PDSES/SSES grant in the past. PDSES (formerly SSES) is a one-time only grant.

Note: The student must be eligible at the time the application is submitted and must remain eligible throughout the entire process. If, at any point, the student no longer meets eligibility requirements the student will no longer be eligible for the PDSES grant. For example, if the student is dismissed from special education or is no longer enrolled in a Texas public school due to graduation or enrollment in a private school.

My student is currently being evaluated for special education, can I apply?

You should not apply for your student unless they are currently eligible for PDSES at the time you submit your application. If your student is in the process of being evaluated, please wait to apply until after the initial Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) committee meeting determines your student is eligible to receive services through special education.

I am not getting emails from the program, what should I do?   

Email is the primary way the PDSES program communicates with parents, including application status updates and next steps. For this reason, it is very important that parents use a personal email address (not a work or school email) that they check regularly and expect to keep long term. If you wish to change the primary email address connected to your PDSES application, reach out to PDSESHelp@region10.org.

Parents are also strongly encouraged to add the following email addresses to their email safe sender or contacts list to help ensure PDSES emails are not missed or sent to spam:

• PDSESHelp@region10.org
• PDSESInfo@tea.texas.gov
• info@classwallet.com

You can log in to the PDSES Parent Portal to check your status at any time, and you will also receive emails each time your status changes.

If you are not receiving those emails:

1. Check that your email address is correct - Log in to your PDSES Parent Portal and confirm your MySPEDTex Login email address is correct. You can also add and/or confirm your secondary email address. If your MySPEDTex Login email needs to be changed, reach out to SPEDTex: 855-773-3839 or inquire@spedtex.org.
2. Check that PDSES emails are not going to your spam/junk folder - if this is happening, we recommend flagging these emails as “this is not spam / junk”.
3. Contact us for help - if you continue to have trouble, please email PDSESHelp@region10.org or call SPEDTex at 855-773-3839.

What information do I need to provide as a parent/guardian?

You will need to provide the following:

1. Parent/Guardian's first and last name
2. Street address - note: this cannot be a P.O. Box
3. City, state, and zip code - note: you must live in Texas
4. Phone number
5. Your My SPEDTex Login email will be automatically populated - you cannot change this in the application, if you wish to change your My SPEDTex account email, please reach out to SPEDTex: 855-773-3839 or inquire@spedtex.org.
6. Secondary email - you may add a second email address to receive notifications about the PDSES application. This is not required.
7. Communication preference -you can select to receive notifications in English or Spanish.

After you have entered your information, click the “SUBMIT” button.

What if I need to edit my information in the parent/guardian section?

After you have entered your information and submitted, you will see an “EDIT” button. You may click this and edit your information at any time. Please note, you cannot change your My SPEDTex login email address within the PDSES parent portal. If you wish to change your My SPEDTex email, please contact SPEDTex at 855-773-3839 or inquire@spedtex.org. After, click the “SUBMIT” button to save any edits.

How do I add a student to my PDSES Parent Portal account?

Step 1: Click the "Add Student" button located below the Parent/Guardian section to open the “Student Lookup” page.

Step 2: On the “Student Lookup” page, you will need to provide the following information for your student:

• Identification Number:
• Unique Identification Number (UID) - If you know your student's 10-digit UID you can enter it here. See below for more information about UIDs. OR
• Social Security Number (SSN) or State Alternate ID (S#) - (only needed if you do not know your student’s UID) – you can use your student’s SSN (9-digits) or S# (the letter “S” followed by 8-digits) to lookup the UID. If you do not know your student’s SSN or S#, you will need to contact your student’s school - the PDSES program and TEA are unable to provide this information.
• Student Information:
• First Name
• Last Name
• Date of Birth

Note: the information you provide MUST match the spelling of your student’s complete name as entered in the TSDS (Texas Student Data System) upon enrollment. For more, see the table of error messages below regarding the message, “The information entered does not match state records.”

Step 3: Once you have added the correct information, click the “Search” button and your student will appear in the boxes below.

Step 4: Confirm your student's information is correct and click the “Add to Profile” button.

Important: Adding your student to your profile does not mean that you have applied for your student. To do that you must click “Apply” next to your student’s information on the homepage – See the “Applying for a Student” section below.

What is a Unique Identification Number (UID)?  

A UID is a 10-digit number given to each student in a Texas public school. It is sometimes referred to as the TSDS (Texas Student Data System) number. It is used by the state to identify students without using their social security numbers. The UID is different from a local ID number that may be given by your school district (i.e., Student ID or District ID). The UID can be found on your student’s STAAR results, or the school’s data or PEIMS clerk can help you find this 10-digit number.

How do I get my student’s Unique Identification Number (UID)?

• You can use the “Student Lookup” in the PDSES Parent Portal in the “Add a Student” page using the identification number you used to register your student. This will either be your student’s Social Security Number (SSN) or, if you did not use an SSN, a number given to you by the school at registration called a State Alternate ID (S#). These start with the letter "S" and have eight digits. OR,
• The UID can be found on your student’s STAAR results within , where it is referred to as the TSDS ID, PEIMS ID, or Student ID.
• You can contact your student’s school. Note: the UID is different than a local ID provided by the district. The UID is 10-digits and is sometimes referred to as the TSDS number.

What if I don't know my student's SSN, or S#?

The PDSES program and TEA are unable to provide this information. You will need to contact your student’s school. They will need to confirm you have permission to receive this information.

Can I look up my student using only their name?

No. You must provide your student’s exact information to match state records.

How do I add another student?

Once you have added your first student to your parent profile, you will repeat the process for adding additional students.

Now that I have added my student(s) to my profile, how do I submit their application(s)?

After you have added your student(s), you will see them listed in the “Students” section below the “Parent/Guardian” information on the homepage. Click on the “Apply” button on the row for your student, then complete the steps on the application submission page. If you have more than one student, you will repeat these steps.

What if I do not see an “Apply” button for my student(s)?

If the “Apply” button does not appear in the “Action” column for one or more of your students, this is likely because an application has already been submitted for this student in the past. PDSES (formerly SSES) is a one-time only grant and you cannot apply for a student that has already received an account. If you need assistance, reach out to PDSESHelp@region.org.

What is required to submit the application?

First, click “Apply” for your student, to open the application submission page. Before you can click the “Submit Application” button, you must complete three steps: 

1. Acknowledge the PDSES 30-Day Account Activation Requirement: This states that, if you are awarded an account, you must log in to your online ClassWallet Marketplace account (where you spend the grant funds) and accept the PDSES Parental Acknowledgement and Agreement. If you do not complete these steps within 30-days of receiving your award email, account funds may be removed.
2. Certify that you have legal authority for your student(s): If you cannot certify that you meet the program’s definition of parent, you should not participate in the PDSES program. According to , a parent is “a resident of this state who is a natural or adoptive parent, managing or possessory conservator, legal guardian, custodian, or other person with legal authority to act on behalf of (the) child.” When you submit your application, you must certify that you have this authority, and you may be required to provide documentation to verify this upon request from program administration when/if this is in question. If you apply for a student without legal authority, or are unable to verify, your account will be subject to cancellation.
3. Certify the information provided is accurate and true: Check the box and your first and last name will populate. 

Note – The application submission page also provides certain parents the option to add attachments. This step is not required and is only for certain applications that the system identifies as needing documentation in order to help determine eligibility. 

After completing all required steps, click the “Submit Application” button. If you have additional students, you will need to repeat these steps.

Do I need to upload documentation for my student’s application?

Most families will not be asked to upload any documentation. For the majority of students, state records are all that are needed to confirm eligibility. Only families of students whose eligibility cannot be confirmed through state records will be notified and given the option to upload documentation. If you are not notified during the application process, no action is required and you will not see an option to upload documents.

Why the system may ask for documentation

In some situations, state data may not yet reflect a student’s eligibility. For example, the system may request documentation if:

• Your student began receiving special education services after October 1 of the current school year, and state records do not yet show those services.
• Your student recently enrolled in a Texas public school after October 1 of the current school year, and enrollment or special education data has not yet been updated in state systems.

In these cases, the system will notify you during the application process and prompt you to upload documentation to help confirm eligibility.

How do I apply for more than one student?

You will repeat the process by completing the application submission page for each student.

What should I do if the application seems stuck or is not working?

When many people are using the system at the same time, your application might take a while to load. Please be patient. If it still doesn't work, try refreshing your browser, wait a few minutes, and try again. The application works best on a desktop/laptop using Chrome. If you still have problems, please email PDSESHelp@region10.org for help.

When should I expect a decision to be made on my application?

All applications will be processed after the application window has closed and in the order they were received. This process might take several weeks after the application closes. You will receive your decision by email, and you can check your status in the PDSES Parent Portal.

When can I upload documentation?

Documentation may be uploaded at two points in the process:

1. During the application window – Documentation may be uploaded at two points in the process:
   • Either at the time you submit your application,
   • Or if you do not have your documentation at the time you submit, you can upload it later during the application window by clicking on your student’s application ID.
2. During the appeals process – After the application window closes, parents who receive a denial notification may submit an appeal. Uploading documentation is required to complete the appeals process. Parents will be prompted to upload their student’s IEP.

I was asked to provide documentation during the application process; how do I upload documentation?

You will only see the option to upload documents if the system notifies you that documentation is needed or if you are submitting an appeal.

Where to find the upload option:

• Before submitting your application: The “Attachment” feature will appear below the required checkboxes on the application submission page.
• After submitting your application (while the application window is still open): Click on your student’s application ID to open the submitted application, then select “Attachment.”
• During an appeal: After clicking the “Appeal” button, the “Attachment” feature will be available on the Appeal page.

If you are not notified by the system, you will not see the attachment option and no action is required.

How to upload your file(s):

• Click “Attachment” to access the upload screen.
• Upload a digital PDF copy of your student’s current IEP provided by the school (preferred), or take pictures of all pages of the IEP, combine them into a single PDF file, and upload.
• Please name your file using the following format: Student First Name_Student Last Name_Document Type (Example: John_Smith_IEP).
• If uploading more than one document, repeat the process for each file.
• Once uploaded, return to the homepage to view a chart showing each attachment you submitted.

Do I have to upload documentation to complete the application process?

No, you do not have to upload documentation to submit your application. However, if the system says you need to upload documentation and you do not, you will likely get a denial and need to complete the appeal process.

To avoid the appeal process, you should upload documentation during the application window, either at the time of submitting the application, or you can upload it later during the application window by clicking on your student’s application ID.

What documentation is needed?

The only documentation we will accept to determine your student’s eligibility is his/her Individualized Education Program (IEP) from the most recent Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) committee meeting. The dates on the IEP must show the student is currently being served by special education, and the document must include all pages and be signed by all members of the ARD committee. As a reminder, only parents of students who recently became eligible for PDSES (after October 1st of the current school year) need to upload documentation. If you do not have a digital copy of the correct ARD/IEP paperwork, please reach out to your student’s school.

What is an IEP from the ARD committee meeting?

An Individualized Education Program (IEP) is the plan created by the Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) committee to support your student's disability through specialized instruction. This document is specific to each student and is reviewed during a student's annual ARD meeting. The length of the document depends on each student but is typically 20-50 pages. An IEP includes your student's disability, current performance, goals, objectives, schedule of services, and deliberation notes of what was discussed in the meeting. The document also includes a signatures page which lists the name, title, and signature of each person in attendance at the ARD meeting.

How do I know I have the correct documentation?   

We recommend checking three areas to make sure you upload your student’s ARD/IEP documentation and not some other special education document: 

1. Check the length – the ARD/IEP paperwork is long (typically 20-50 pages), while most other documents (except for FIE evaluation reports) are typically only a few pages.
2. Check for “Individualized Education Program (IEP) Meeting” in the title of the first page. (Evaluation reports such as a Full and Individual Evaluation (FIE) have “Full and Individual Evaluation” in the title)
3. Check near the end for the signatures page – ARD/IEP paperwork contains a page with a table which lists the name and role of all members present and provides space for their signature.

What type of file should I upload?   

You must upload a digital file such as a PDF. 

If you do not have a digital copy of the correct ARD/IEP paperwork, please reach out to your student’s school. If you do not have a digital copy, the following links will show you how to convert to photos to a PDF, how to combine multiple images into a single PDF, and how to correctly name your files. 

• Converting photos and single documents into a PDF file:
• Combining multiple files (such as images) into one PDF:
• Naming your files: Once you have converted your documents, please name the file using the format: Student First Name_Student Last Name_Document Type (Example: John_Smith_IEP)

Who should appeal their student’s denial decision?

You should appeal if your student’s application was denied, and you can provide documentation to show they are eligible. There are some instances where a student’s state data is different from their current school data. This can happen when a student starts receiving services for special education or is enrolled in school after October 1st of the current school year. 

You should appeal if: 

1. Your student started receiving special education services after October 1st of the current school year. If your student’s IEP paperwork shows special education services started after October 1st you should appeal and upload their documents. OR
2. Your student recently started attending a Texas public school. If your student enrolled in a Texas public school after October 1st of the current school year (even if his/her Initial ARD was held before October 1st) you should appeal and upload their documentation.

How do I appeal?

1. Login to your PDSES Parent Portal.
2. On the home page click on the “Appeal” button in the “Action” column for the student you want to submit an appeal for.
3. This will open the “Appeal My PDSES Application Decision” page.
   • Before uploading attachments, read the instructions to decide if you should appeal.
   • Follow the instructions on how to add attachments and upload documentation.
   • Describe the reason for your appeal in the text box provided.
4. Confirm all fields and attachments are correct and click “Submit Appeal”.

Important: After you have submitted an appeal, you will not be able to upload additional documentation. If you wish to add additional documentation after you have submitted, the PDSES team will have to cancel your appeal, and you will have to start the appeals process over. 

What documentation do I need to submit an appeal?

The only documentation we will accept to determine your student’s eligibility is his/her Individualized Education Program (IEP) from the most recent Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) committee meeting. The dates on the IEP must show your student was being served by special education on or before the day you submitted your application, and the document must include all pages and be signed by all ARD committee members who were present.

See “How do I know I have the correct documentation?” and the “What type of file should I upload?” sections to make sure you are uploading the correct documentation in the right file format.

Important: After you have submitted an appeal, you will not be able to upload additional documentation. If you wish to add additional documentation after you have submitted, the PDSES team will have to cancel your appeal, and you will have to start the appeals process over. 

What is an IEP from the ARD committee meeting?

An Individualized Education Program (IEP) is the plan created by the Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) committee to support your student's disability through specialized instruction. This document is specific to each student and is reviewed during a student's annual ARD meeting. The length of the document depends on each student but is typically 20-50 pages. Among other things, it includes your student's disability, current performance, goals, objectives, schedule of services, and deliberation notes of what was discussed in the meeting. The document also includes a signatures page which lists the name, title, and signature of each person in attendance.

How can I check the status of my appeal?

You can log into your PDSES Parent Portal to check the status of your appeal within the “Students” section of your homepage. Also, an email will be sent when your student’s appeal status changes.

What should I do if I haven't received any communication regarding my appeal?

During the PDSES appeal process the administrator who is processing your appeal may need additional information and might reach out by email or phone. Once an appeal is submitted, no other documentation may be added to an appeal. Should a submitted appeal not have the correct documentation, the administrator will reach out to notify the parent that the appeal will be cancelled to allow the parent to upload the correct documentation and submit a new appeal.  

In addition, you will receive an email each time your student's application status is changed. If you haven't received any email updates, see the section on “I am not getting emails from the program, what should I do?” or email PDSESHelp@region10.org.

How long does the appeal process take?

Appeals are processed in the order they are received and can take a couple of months to complete. To make this process quicker, you should upload the correct documentation. Once an appeal is submitted, no other documentation may be added to an appeal.

How long do I have to appeal?

Parents have until the last Friday in January following the application window to submit their appeal. All attachments must be received by this day.

My appeal was cancelled; can I appeal again?

Yes, if you receive an email stating that your appeal was cancelled, you may submit a new appeal. Parents must start the appeal process over which includes uploading the correct documentation. Appeals are likely cancelled because the correct documentation was not provided.

Why was my appeal denied? Can I appeal again?

Your appeal was likely denied because you did not upload documentation that proved your student was eligible for the current application window. 

You may not appeal after your appeal has been denied. You will be able to reapply for your student(s) during the next application window.

What if I choose to not appeal?

If you received a denial and choose to not appeal, you can reapply for your student(s) during the next application window. We will not reprocess applications; parents must reapply for their student(s).