TEA: SCHOOLS MUST SERVE ALL KIDS WITH DISABILITIES

  

The Texas Education Agency has told schools they must provide services to all eligible students with disabilities and they won't be penalized for serving too many children.

The TEA's announcement comes after the U.S. Department of Education ordered the state agency to end an 8.5 percent benchmark on special education enrollment.

The Houston Chronicle had previously reported that schools began denying special education services after the state imposed the enrollment benchmark in 2004.

In a five-page letter, Penny Schwinn, the agency's deputy commissioner of academics, told schools that the TEA eventually would end the benchmark.

But Schwinn also defended the policy, saying it was not a "cap" on enrollment and did not seriously punish districts for failing to comply.