The 588-COOP supports Special Education for 12 school districts.
Important Documents
ARD Guide
This guide is designed to give you, as the parent of a child who is or may be eligible for special education services, a better understanding of the special education process and of your procedural rights and responsibilities so that you will be able to fully participate in the decision making process regarding your child’s education.
Procedural Safeguards
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), as amended in 2004, requires schools to provide parents of a child with a disability with a notice containing a full explanation of the procedural safeguards available under IDEA and its implementing regulations. This document, produced by the Texas Education Agency (TEA), is intended to meet this notice requirement and help parents of children with disabilities understand their rights under IDEA.
The 588-COOP
Director of Special Education
704 W. Sul Ross Ave.
Alpine, TX 79830
Phone: (432) 837-3315
Fax: (432) 837-3573
The 588 Educational Cooperative coordinates special education services for 12 member school districts in the Big Bend Region of West Texas. Students are afforded a wide range of instructional opportunities provided in the least restrictive environment and designed to meet individual student needs, as determined by the student’s Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) committee.
The 588 Educational Cooperative employs a staff of highly qualified special education personnel who work collaboratively with each district's general education staff to address the academic, functional, and behavioral needs of students with disabilities.
Special Education services are designed as an integral support to each district's general education curricular, instructional, and assessment program to provide individualized supports and services to students meeting eligibility requirements in one or more of the following areas: autism, deaf-blindness, auditory impairment, emotional disturbance, intellectual disability, multiple disabilities, orthopedic impairment, other health impairment, learning disability, speech impairment, traumatic brain injury, visual impairment, or non-categorical early childhood.
The Special Education Information Center (SPEDTex) provides resources and interactive features for increasing family awareness of disabilities and special education processes, with the goal of improving partnerships between schools and families.
Contact information:
Phone: 1-855-773-3839
Email: inquire@spedtex.org
Live Chat: www.spedtex.org
About Parent-Directed Special Education Services (PDSES)
Parent-Directed Special Education Services (PDSES) are $1,500 one-time on-line grants for eligible parents/caregivers of eligible students served by special education that have been impacted by COVID-19 school closures. Families of eligible students can use the on-line accounts to obtain educational materials and resources and/or services such as additional speech therapy or other specific services.
Servicios de Educación Especial Dirigidos por los Padres (PDSES por sus siglas en inglés)
El programa de Servicios de Educación Especial Dirigidos por los Padres, anteriormente conocido como el programa de Servicios Suplementarios de Educación Especial (SSES) es una subvención única en línea de $1,500 para padres/tutores de estudiantes elegibles atendidos por educación especial y que están matriculados en una escuela pública de Texas. Los padres/tutores de estudiantes elegibles pueden usar las cuentas para ir de compras en el mercado en línea y obtener materiales y recursos educativos como libros, currículo o dispositivos tecnológicos, y/o servicios como terapia del habla adicional, tutoría u otros servicios específicos.
The 588-COOP
Administrative Assistants
Physical Therapist
Occupational Therapist
Educational Diagnostician
Julie Hawkins
Jackie Molsbee
Marta Huelsberg
Margarita Prieto
Angela Smith
Janet Samaniego