Written by This revision of the Child Protective Services Handbook was published on April 1, 2016.
CPS wants to ensure that the general public understands what critical actions caseworkers are required to perform and why. To further this understanding, CPS has set up a policy e-mail box for the general public: CPSPolicyQuestions@dfps.state.tx.us. Please feel free to contact us, via this email address, with any general questions related to policy.
For questions or concerns regarding specific cases, please contact the caseworker or supervisor, or the Office of Consumer Affairs at 1-800-720-7777.
Streamlining of CPS Handbook section 15000 Education
Adoption and Fostering by DFPS Employees
Streamlining of CPS Handbook section 15000 Education (PATS 8907)
Section 15000 Education for Children is being streamlined to remove non-essential content. All content has been reviewed and revised for clarity. See:
15100 The Role of DFPS and the Caseworker in Ensuring Education Stability and Success
15110 The Role of the Caseworker in Ensuring Education Stability
15111 When a Child is in Parental Child Safety Placement (PCSP) or an Emergency Shelter
15111 The Role of the Investigations Worker in Maintaining Education Stability
15112 The Role of the Family Based Safety Services (FBSS) Worker in Maintaining Education Stability
15113 The Role of the Conservatorship Worker in Maintaining Education Stability
15114 McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Act
15200 School Options for Children
15210 Early Childhood Education Programs for Children
15211 Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) From Birth to Age 3
15211.1 Referrals to Early Childhood Intervention (ECI)
15212 Enrollment for Children Ages 3, 4, and 5
15212.1 15213 Pre-Kindergarten Programs Offered Through the Public Schools
15212.2 15214 Head Start Programs
15212.3 15215 Pre-School Programs for Children With Disabilities (PPCD)
15220 15223 Education in a Home Setting Schooling
15230 15220 Exceptions to Standard Schooling Options for Children and Youth Ages 5 Through 21
15231 15221 Choosing a Public School or Residential Treatment Center (RTC) Program
15232 15224 Private School or Boarding School
15233 15225 General Education Development (GED)
15234 15226 Texas Virtual School Network (TxVSN) and Virtual Schools
15235 15227 Education Services for Children in Nursing Homes or Hospitals, or Who Are Homebound
15236 15228 Education Services for School-Age Children Who Are Placed Out-of-State
15236.1 15228.1 Paying Out-of-State Tuition
15237 15228.2 Requesting an Exception to Standard Schooling
15300 Enrollment, Records Transfer, and Withdrawal for Children Changing Schools
15310 Documents Required by School District for Enrollment
15310 Time Frame for Completing the Child’s Enrollment
15320 A Child’s Temporary Absence From School
15330 15320 Immunization Requirements
15340 15330 Documents Required for Enrollment
15331 Placement Authorization Forms (The 2085s)
15341 15332 Court Order
15342 15333 Education Decision-Maker Form
15340 Accessing and Maintaining School Records
15350 15350 Requesting Transfer of School Records
15360 15360 Withdrawing a Student from School
15370 15370 Education Decision Making
15371 15371 Designating an Education Decision-Maker
15371.1 Designating an Education Decision Maker at Initial Placement
15371.2 Designating Changes to the Education Decision Maker
15372 15372 Surrogate Parents for Children With Disabilities
15373 Rights and Responsibilities of the Caseworker
15374 Rights and Responsibilities of the Education Decision-Maker
15375 Rights and Responsibilities of the School
15373 Required Notification of School-Related Information
15373.1 15380 Maintaining Confidentiality for Children and Youth While Enrolled in School
15380 15390 Education Records
15381 15391 Creating a Child’s Educational Record
15382 15392 Education-Related Documents Required for the Child’s Case File
15400 The Education Portfolio
15410 Education-Related Documents Required for the Education Portfolio
15420 The Role of the Caseworker Worker in Creating, Delivering, and Maintaining the Education Portfolio
15421 Maintaining the Education Portfolio
15421 15421.1 The Role of the Caseworker Worker in Creating Maintaining the Education Portfolio
15421.2 The Role of the Caregiver in Maintaining the Education Portfolio
15422 Time Frames for Delivering and Transferring the Education Portfolio to the Child’s Caregiver
15423 Delivering Collecting the Documents Required for the Education Portfolio at Discharge from Conservatorship
15500 Discipline of Children in DFPS Conservatorship in the Public Schools
15510 Corporal Punishment and Other Physical Discipline in Schools
15510 15511 Requirement to Opt Out of Corporal Punishment
15520 15512 Discipline Strategies and Restrictions for Children With Disabilities Who Are, or May Be, Eligible for Special Education Services
15513 Discipline Strategies and Restrictions for Children With Disabilities Who Are Eligible for Special Education Services
15600 Education Resources
15610 Role and Responsibilities of the Regional Education Specialist
15620 School District Foster Care Liaisons
15630 Personal Graduation Plans (PGP)
15640 Credit Recovery Programs
15700 School Services for Children With Disabilities
15710 The Role of the School in Serving Children With Disabilities
15711 The Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
15712 Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
15720 Referring a Child for a Special Education Assessment and Evaluation
15721 Conditions That Make a Child Eligible For Special Education Services
15721 15722 Obtaining Consent for Testing
15723 The Role of Surrogate Parents in the Education of Children With Disabilities
15724 Eligibility to Serve as a Surrogate Parent
15724.1 Denial of a Foster Parent as Surrogate Parent
15725 The Admissions, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) Committee and the Individualized Education Program (IEP)
15726 Transition Plans for Youths Age 14 Who Are Receiving Special Education Services
15722 15727 Denial of Services and Due Process
15800 Tuition and Funding for Post-Secondary Education
15810 Exemptions From College Tuition
15820 The Education and Training Voucher Program
Hearing Notice Requirements (PATS 8612)
This item is revised to reflect changes in hearing notice requirements resulting from the 84th Legislative Session in 2015. See:
5512 Notice Requirements for the Status Hearing
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5534 Notice Requirements for Permanency Hearings All Hearings Prior to Final Order
This item is revised to reflect changes resulting from the 84th Legislative Session in 2015. See:
5564.14 Criminal Activity and Imprisonment
Aggravated Circumstances (PATS 8622)
This item is revised to reflect changes resulting from the 84th Legislative Session in 2015. See:
Appendix 5440: Aggravated Circumstances
Administrative Closure (PATS 9022)
This item is revised to clarify conditions under which staff should and should not use Administrative Closure. See:
2310 Administrative Closure
Adoption and Fostering by DFPS Employees (PATS 8912)
The items below are revised to conform to new DFPS-wide operating policy DFPS-8103 Fostering or Adopting of Children in DFPS Conservatorship by DFPS Employees. Only policies and procedures specific to the CPS program are being kept in this handbook. See:
7811 General Guidelines for Program Administrators and Designees
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7813 When CPS Employees Who Seek to Become Foster Parents of a Child in DFPS Conservatorship
7813.1 The Eligibility of CPS Employees to Become Foster Parents
7813.2 The Eligibility of CPS Job Applicants to Remain Foster Parents
7814 When CPS Employees Who Seek to Adopt a Child in DFPS Conservatorship
7814.1 The Eligibility of CPS Employees to Adopt a Child Who Is a Relative or Fictive Kin
7814.2 The Eligibility of CPS Employees to Adopt a Specific Child That Is Not Related to Them the Employee and Is Not a Fictive Kin
7814.21 Adopting a Child Other Than a Specific Child
7814.22 Adopting a Specific Child
7814.3 The Process for CPS Employees to Adopt
7814.31 When a CPS Employee Seeks to Adopt a Child Related to the Employee
7814.3 7814.32 When The Eligibility of a CPS Employee Seeks to Adopt a Non-Specific Child Not Related to the Employee
Permanency Progress Report (PATS 8607)
These items are revised to reflect changes to permanency progress report requirements resulting from the 84th Legislative Session in 2015. See:
5583 Filing a Placement Review Permanency Progress Report With the Court and Parties for Children Under Permanent DFPS Conservatorship
5584 Notice Requirements for Placement Review Permanency Hearings for Children Under Permanent DFPS Conservatorship
5585 Meeting the Content Requirements for a Placement Review Permanency Progress Report
5586 Obtaining Approval of a Placement Review Permanency Progress Report
Appendix 5585: Legal Requirements Relevant to the Placement Review Permanency Progress Report PMC
In my opinion, unless there is a valid reason not to include the parents, whenever a child or children are removed from the home for anything other than imminent danger so that reunification is the ultimate goal, the parent or parents should be the ones included and over decisions concerning the child or children’s educational placements, especially in the case of when a child has been homeschooled. The reason is because the parent or parents, as teachers of said child, knows more about the child’s placement and capabilities and what works best in providing for the child’s educational goals.
I also believe that such things as vaccinations, and/or early education such as pre-school or Kindergarten, should be left to the parent(s) to decide, unless mitigating circumstances (extreme) indicate they are not capable of making said decisions – and the same should hold true for any and all medical treatments for said child/ren.
Has the education component changed? CPS told me they have no authority over education.
Also…they said it was completely normal and ok for a 7 year old to shower with her 17 year old half brother…naked while he washes her all over, sometimes without a washcloth, in a small shower the size of a smalll evevator.
They also said it’s ok for the dad to “tickle” the little girl on her upper inner thigh.
Can anyone please direct me to where I can prove them wrong on these? The penal code is “grey” in these areas…but these CANNOT be “ok”
About 6 months later, the little girl appeared pregnant, but still remains with dad, and brother, and no contact allowed with mom to get her to a dr.
She’s been removed from school and in a remote location on a ranch.
Help please