Special Education/EIS

All states and territories must provide early intervention services to children who have, or are at risk for having, developmental delays, from birth to their third birthday.

Most CONUS locations, local school districts or health departments provide these early intervention services. The program is called different names in different areas, but it is often referred to as Part C because that is the section of the law that pertains to early intervention. The Education Directory for Children with Special Needs has a list of resources specific to each state to help you determine who you should contact. Your installation EFMP Family Support provider can also answer your questions.

If you are moving OCONUS or to a CONUS location with a DODEA school (and you live on installation), your child will receive EIS through the Defense Department’s Educational and Developmental Intervention Services, or EDIS, program.

When moving, you should hand carry copies of your child's most current individual family service plan, or IFSP, and the most current evaluation reports to your new home to ensure they are not lost.

All states and territories provide special education and related services to eligible children between the ages of 3 through 21.

When a child transfers to a different district in the same state, the new school must provide a free, appropriate public education, including comparable services, until the previously held IEP is adopted or a new one is developed and implemented. When a child transfers to another state, the receiving school must provide comparable services until an IEP review can determine if a new evaluation or IEP is appropriate.

If you are moving and your child receives special education and related services, you should hand carry all necessary school and medical documents, including the most current IEP and current evaluation reports. Hand carrying these documents ensures that they are not lost and allows the new school to begin the process as soon as you arrive.

• Education Directory for Children with Special Needs
• EFMP & Me digital tool
• Individualized Education Program & Moving
• Special Needs Resources
• Exceptional Family Member Program videos

Students with disabilities are guaranteed an equal opportunity for a free and appropriate public education. Services are provided in the least restrictive environment appropriate to meet individual student needs.

Students who are ages three through twenty-one with one or more of the following disabilities may be eligible for special education:

• Learning Disability
• Visual Impairment
• Emotional Disturbance
• Speech Impairment
• Orthopedic Impairment
• Mental Retardation
• Auditory Impairment
• Deaf Blind
• Multiple Disabilities
• Autism
• Traumatic Brain Injury

Students who are visually impaired, hearing impaired, or both, may be served from birth through twenty-one years of age.

Special Education Eligibility

To be eligible for special education services in Texas, a student must have been determined to have one or more of the qualifying conditions listed in federal regulations or in state law.

Once eligibility is determined, special needs students have the right to a free appropriate education in the least restrictive setting possible; that may be the regular classroom, instruction through special teaching, or instruction through approved contracts.

As part of enrolling a special needs child in an independent school district, it is necessary to contact the appropriate school district to arrange for an evaluation. Be sure to bring the existing individual education plan and any other pertinent information to the evaluation. The child will then be assigned to the appropriate setting based on the findings.

For additional information please see Child and Youth Service Special Needs Contact topic below.

Education Eligibility by Installation

JBSA Fort Sam Houston

If your child is currently enrolled in a special education program, it is vital that the principal or counselor be notified of this fact at the time of registration. If you feel that your child needs referral to a special education program, work with the school principal to set up the testing process.

Personnel assigned to Fort Sam Houston with a Special Needs Family Member should contact the Exception Family Member Program Coordinator immediately upon arrival for a detailed assessment, enrollment and other requirements. Special Education Services may be available on post for students with one or more disabilities who reside within the post schools. The district accomplishes this through individual instruction

Parent Information Line

1-800-252-9668 (Toll Free)

This toll-free message line is reserved for parents and other family members who have questions about students’ rights and regulatory requirements as they relate to special education complains investigations, mediations, and due process hearings. Trained professionals return calls during normal business hours.

JBSA Lackland 

Personnel assigned to joint Base San Antonio-Lackland with a Special Needs Family Member should contact the Exceptional Family Member Program-Medical (EFMP-M) office upon arrival; they are in Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center (WHASC). Appointments are required for all incoming sponsors who are Q-coded in order to update information and establish a Lackland EFMP file, information and limited resources will be provided. Please call 210-292-2775 or 210-292-5864 for an appointment. For additional information on support services and resources for exceptional family members, please contact the Exceptional Family Member Program - Family Support (EFMP-FS) Coordinator located at the Airman and Family Readiness Center, building 1249. See the Airman and Family Readiness Center in the contact list.

JBSA Randolph 

Personnel assigned to Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph with a Special Needs Family Member should contact the Exceptional Family Member Program-Medical (EFMP-M) office upon arrival; they can also be reached at (210) 652-2306.  At your initial appointment you will learn the medical appointment system and the community referral system and will be offered supportive counseling. If you have an EFMP child, the school district in which you live is required by law to meet the educational needs of all children beginning at age three. For additional information on support services and resources for exceptional family members, to include Respite Care, please contact the Exceptional Family Member Program - Family Support (EFMP-FS) Coordinator located at the Military & Family Readiness Center, building 693, 210-652-5321.