The Texas Continuous Improvement Process (TCIP) is a permanent, annual process that the State uses to continuously identify areas for improvement and implement strategies to improve the provision of special education in Texas. The State created this process based on a similar process used by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) when they monitored Texas using the Continuous Improvement Monitoring Process.
The TCIP has four major components:
(1) Self-Assessment
The Self Assessment is an exercise where the State examines itself to determine
how it’s doing in the provision of Special Education. The State does this
through the Texas Steering Committee
– a group of 20-25 special education stakeholders (parents, teachers,
administrators, etc.). To perform the Self Assessment, the steering committee
reviews data and current activities related to the 20 performance and compliance
indicators in the State Performance Plan (SPP)/Annual
Performance Report (APR). The Texas Steering Commitee advises the State
on performance targets for certain performance indicators in the SPP/APR.
(2) Public Meetings
Each year, the Texas Education Agency and Education Service Centers conduct
public meetings. The public meetings provide the State with a different perspective
on the special education system. So while the self assessment provides a quantitative,
data oriented, view of the provision of special education in Texas, the public
meetings provide a qualitative view, based on people’s input across the
state. The information gathered during the public meetings is used for continuous
improvement at the regional and state level.
2010-11 Schedule of Public Meetings
2009-10 Statewide Summary of Regional Feedback
2008-09 Statewide Summary of Regional Feedback
2007-08 Statewide Summary of Regional Feedback
2006-07 Statewide Summary of Regional Feedback
(3) Improvement Planning
Improvement planning involves reviewing data and statewide activities to understand
what needs to be improved, then implementing actions to improve that part of
the special education system. There are seven TCIP Improvement Groups that have
a focus aligned to the indicators in the State Performance
Plan. The improvement groups are comprised of 20-25 special education stakeholders
(parents, teachers, administrators, etc.). These improvement groups review data
and current activities related to the 20 performance and compliance indicators
in the State Performance Plan (SPP)/Annual Performance
Report (APR) and advise the State on continuous improvement.
(4) TCIP = Multi-Level Model
The TCIP is intended to be a multi-level model, meaning the self assessment,
public meetings, and improvement planning will occur at the State level, and
will yield information and data which will be shared at the regional and district
levels so that ultimately all levels in the system are involved in coordinated,
continuous improvement. From year to year, information from the self assessment,
public meetings, and improvement planning, will be used to determine what to
check in on as part of the next year’s continuous improvement process,
and help determine how progress has been made in improving over time
Texas Education Agency | Division of IDEA Coordination
1701 North Congress Avenue | Austin, Texas 78701-1494
Telephone: 512.463.9414 | Fax: 512.463.9560
Last Updated: November 17, 2010 | Created: September 23, 2002
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