During and after disasters, education whether in public, private or higher education settings can be disrupted or suspended depending on the severity and duration of the event.
We are fortunate that foreseen risks such as severe weather can be predicted and leaders can make decisions to close campuses ahead of the potential impact. However, damage and other disruptions can also cause prolonged school closures and widespread community impacts.
Ensure that you are signed up for alerts from your education system to remain up-to-date on impacts and closures. For higher education students, ensure you understand procedures and policies for making up missed classes and options for withdraws or receiving incompletes, as well as requirements for continued financial assistance.
If you become displaced and choose to enroll in another school or your home campus remains closed, there are protections for students in public K-12, impacted by disasters seeking enrollment in other districts.
Students receiving 504 and special education services are entitled to a continued Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE), as well as continuation of any other supporting programs such as Gifted and Talented (GT), Limited English Proficiency (LEP) and Response to Intervention (RTI).
If your child misses special education and related services because a hurricane, flood, wildfire or other incident which created a prolonged school closure, advocate for these services to be made up (called “compensatory education services”) so your child can continue to progress and meet the goals in their Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 plan.
Your first step is to request an Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) committee meeting to discuss with school staff what your child missed and how the school plans to make up for it. To request an ARD committee meeting, use the sample letter below. To create your request:
- Copy and paste the sample text below into a document or an email
- Change the information in brackets ([]) to reflect your specific situation
- Send the document or email to the appropriate person with the school district
Sample Text for ARD Meeting Request to Discuss Compensatory Education Services
[Case Manager or Diagnostician]
[School/School District]
[Date]
Dear [Name of Case Manager or Diagnostician]:
I am writing to request an ARD meeting to review my child’s [insert name] IEP and discuss the provision of compensatory education services for my child, to make up for the missed special education and related services they experienced when schools were closed due to [list date of disaster/event] OR the failure to provide services when [insert name] transferred into [Name of receiving ISD].
Schools must consider the impact of cancelled or suspended services on the child’s program and performance and determine how to ensure the continued provision of FAPE [a free, appropriate public education] in order for the child to continue to progress and meet the annual goals in his or her IEP. Whether an interruption in services constitutes a denial of FAPE is an individual determination that must be made on a case-by-case basis and warrants a review and discussion.
My child has not received [name services and list dates]. Please let me know available dates for an ARD meeting to discuss this disruption in services and review of the current IEP.
Sincerely,
[Your name], parent of [your child’s name]
[Your most convenient contact information (phone, email, or mailing address)]
Last Updated: April 21, 2026
Publication Code: ED47
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Disclaimer: Disability Rights Texas strives to update its materials on an annual basis, and this handout is based upon the law at the time it was written. The law changes frequently and is subject to various interpretations by different courts. Future changes in the law may make some information in this handout inaccurate.
The handout is not intended to and does not replace an attorney’s advice or assistance based on your particular situation.
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