Sec. 30.051. PURPOSE OF TEXAS SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF.

(a) The Texas School for the Deaf is a state agency established to provide educational services to persons who are 21 years of age or younger on September 1 of any school year and who are deaf or hard of hearing and who may have one or more other disabilities. The school shall provide comprehensive educational services, on a day or residential basis, and short-term services to allow a student to better achieve educational results from services available in the community. The school is not intended to serve:

(1) students whose needs are appropriately addressed in a home or hospital setting or 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 shall serve as a primary statewide resource center promoting excellence in education for students who are deaf or hard of hearing through research, training, and demonstration projects.

(c) The school shall work in partnership with state, regional, and local agencies to provide new or improved programs or methods to serve the previously unmet or future needs of persons throughout the state who are deaf or hard of hearing.

(d) The school shall cooperate with public and private agencies and organizations serving students and other persons who are deaf or hearing impaired in the planning, development, and implementation of effective educational and rehabilitative service delivery systems associated with educating students who are deaf or hard of hearing. 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 persons who have graduated from high school and who have identified needs related to vocational training, independent living skills, and social and leisure skills.

(e) If a school district or another educational entity requests an assessment of a student's educational or related needs related to hearing 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. 1340, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.

Amended by:

Acts 2006, 79th Leg., 3rd C.S., Ch. 5 (H.B. 1), Sec. 7.01, eff. May 31, 2006.