About the IDEA Manual
The IDEA Manual is designed to help you become familiar with the requirements of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Texas law so you can act as an equal partner in planning your child’s education. You will learn, by using this comprehensive manual and by working with school staff, how to plan an educational program that will lead to an independent and productive life for your child and yourself. The manual includes:
- A list of words and acronyms you need to know
- Details on each step of the special education process from evaluation to graduation
- Ways for you to stay involved
- Sample letters and forms
- Parent checklists
- And more
This version of the IDEA Manual was updated in August 2026 and reflects changes from the 2025 Texas legislative session.
Get the IDEA Manual
The IDEA Manual is available as a PDF that can be:
- viewed in a web browser,
- downloaded and viewed in Adobe Acrobat, and/or
- printed.
Download the IDEA Manual (PDF)
Support This Work
The IDEA Manual was developed through a partnership between Disability Rights Texas (DRTx) and The Arc of Texas. If you find the manual to be helpful, please consider making a donation to the nonprofit organizations that created it.
Stay Up to Date
The IDEA Manual is updated periodically. To get notified via email when the next edition of the IDEA Manual is available, subscribe to DRTx’s Special Education Updates.
Publication code: ED02