Families Empowered suggests that parents should apply as soon as possible. The application is currently open.

When you’re ready to fill out the application, you’ll need to have the following information available:

• Parent(s) Social Security Number(s) OR ID Number(s)
• Student Social Security Number OR Texas Public School ID Number
• 2019 Tax Return information OR Nonfiling Status/Reason

Students who receive special education services, who are currently enrolled in a Texas public school, AND are identified as “medically fragile” now qualify for the new SSES+ grant from TEA.

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) will handle the processing of all applications and make the final decision regarding the approval of families.

Families Empowered is here to provide outside support to families as you navigate the application, and to check in with you to bring you information about all of your school options, and any other programs that your family might qualify for.

Initially, up to 20,000 accounts were made available for families across Texas whose children
have eligible disabilities.

$1,500 per eligible student for reimbursement of qualified services.

To be eligible for the SSES grant, students must currently be:

• enrolled in a Texas public school,
• enrolled in PreK – 12th grade,
• and a student with a disability served through Special Education.

No. Students must be enrolled in public school to qualify.

To be eligible for the SSES grant, students must currently be:

• enrolled in a Texas public school,
• enrolled in PreK – 12th grade,
• and a student with a disability served through Special Education.

Accounts are available for and funded per student. As an example, a family with
two students with low-incidence disabilities would receive funding in their
account for $3,000—the combined amount—and funds can be used to support
either child.

The application is open now.

Apply on the TEA website by clicking here.

All applicants will get an immediate email confirmation indicating their
application has been received.

Families will be notified within five business days if they have been approved,
placed on a waiting list, or do not qualify.

No. This is designed to be web-based. The system is compatible with mobile
devices.

TEA, through the account manager, will maintain a list of approved vendors that
have goods or services that parents can obtain via their online accounts. When
the service launches, the list will be pre-populated with a large array of vendors
already approved. TEA will separately manage a process to allow additional
vendors to be vetted and approved as an additional choice.

Only vendors that provide certain types of goods or services will be approved,
which are:
– Private tutoring
– Educationally related services and therapies from a licensed or accredited
practitioner (OT, PT, BCBA, SLP, PT)
– Textbooks, curriculum, or other instructional materials
– Computer hardware, software, or other technological devices that are used
for educational needs

No. Services can only be purchased and received after a family establishes an
account.