Tuesday, January 21st - Special Legislative Updates
We are hosting a special meeting to discuss important legislative updates affecting our special programs community. We’ll have special guests from Disability Rights Texas, the Leander ISD Board of Trustees, and our Special Programs Parent Liaison. This meeting will take place in the Cedar Park Middle School Library from 5:30 - 7:00pm. Childcare will be available, so please RSVP to secure your spot. You can click here to RSVP. We'll send out meeting agendas, and reminder emails as the dates draw closer. Please feel free to invite a friend!
Join PTA for Rally Day
Rally Day at the Capitol is on Monday, February 24th, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. Rally Day is a popular advocacy event attended by thousands of PTA members across the state of Texas and is open to all PTA members (reach out to your school's PTA Membership chair for information on how to join.) This will be an excellent opportunity for students and families to participate in a caucus, rally on the steps, enjoy a picnic lunch together, attend legislator meetings, and participate in literature drops. Rally Day is considered an excused absence for your students, but your family must notify your campus attendance clerk.
The primary focus of the Texas PTA for 2025 is getting public school dollars back into our schools, resolving teacher and staff shortages, transforming school accountability, improving public school funding, and increasing school safety. Please fill out the Rally Day Interest/Attendance Form to get more information.
SELF 18+ Tours
Want to learn more about SELF, 18+ Transition Services? Join us on a Tour! Parents, students and staff welcome. Look forward to meeting you! Complete our tour interest form if you would like to attend!
- Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025
- Wednesday, April 16, 2025
- Wednesday, May 7, 2025
Tours meet at the SELF HUB (portables at the back of Cedar Park HS campus) at 8:45 a.m. CPHS is located at 2150 Cypress Creek Rd. The tour ends by 12 p.m. We will start with a brief introduction in the classroom and visit a class. The group will then follow the leader in their own cars and caravan to the other SELF locations at Twin Lake YMCA.
Project Search
2025-2026 Project Search applications are now open! Project SEARCH is a hands-on internship experience that supports the development of competitive work skills. Interns are assigned 3 rotations throughout the at Seton Northwest hospital during one school year. The program aims to bridge the gap between high school and young adult life; developing career essentials outside of the classroom.
Project SEARCH is a collaborative effort between Ascension Seton, Leander ISD, TWS-VR, Goodwill Industries, and Bluebonnet Trails or Austin Integral Care. The skills learned here can either be used in a medical setting or in jobs in the community. From 2007 - 2024, Project SEARCH at Ascension Seton has graduated nearly 400 interns. Of those graduates, 91% have transitioned into competitive employment. About 35% have been employed at one of the Ascension Seton Facilities while the remaining 65% have found employment in the community.
Apply today before the deadline on February 28, 2025! For more information, contact Project SEARCH instructor Ana Caldas at ana.caldas@leanderisd.org.
Join us for the Destination…Life Transition Conference, an exciting event designed to help Central Texas families prepare their students with disabilities for life beyond high school! Transition starts at birth, and it’s never too early to explore resources and plan for the future. This year's conference, happening Saturday, March 1st, from 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at McNeil High School (5720 McNeil Drive, Austin, TX), will connect families with experts, resources, and programs that support students of all ages, from early childhood through high school, as they transition to adulthood. Explore a vibrant Transition Fair featuring vendors, state and local agencies, and organizations offering guidance on job training, living options, post-secondary education, and more. Don’t miss this free opportunity to discover tools and strategies for building a bright future! Visit the Destination Life...Transition Conference website to learn more and RSVP today!
Friday, May 2nd
We’re thrilled to announce our next Special Programs Family Workshop Conference on Friday, May 2nd, from 10 AM to 1 PM at the LEO Center! This exciting event is a fantastic opportunity to connect with fellow families and engage in interactive sessions covering a variety of important topics. You’ll leave with valuable insights, new resources, and a stronger sense of community support. And we want to hear from YOU—your feedback will help shape the sessions, making this day even more impactful! Please complete the Spring Family Workshop interest form by Friday, February 21st.
The Parent-Directed Special Education Services (PDSES) program, formerly known as the Supplemental Special Education Services (SSES) program, offers a one-time $1,500 grant for parents/guardians of eligible Texas public school students served by special education. These funds can be used to purchase educational materials, resources, or services like textbooks, curriculum, technology, tutoring, or speech therapy through an online marketplace. The program has been renamed to emphasize the vital role parents play in their child’s education, and eligibility remains the same as the SSES program. The next application window will be open from Monday, February 3rd - Monday, March 31st. Visit the PDSES website for more information and to apply!
