Specifications include, but are not limited to: It is the intent of the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to solicit responses to provide independent facilitator services ; Independent facilitators facilitate special education individualized education program (IEP) team meetings pursuant to Texas Education Code (TEC) §29.020 and implementing rules in the Texas Administrative Code (TAC). 1. An independent facilitator must be independent and impartial. In this regard an independent facilitator may not: a. Be an employee of TEA or any public agency that is involved in the education or care of the student who is the subject to IEP team meeting being facilitated by independent facilitator; b. Have a personal or professional interest that would conflict with his or her objectivity as an independent facilitator; and c. Represent, contract with, be employed by, or accept any remuneration from any individual or entity (including, without limitation, any child, parent, teacher, administrator, school district, charter school, or regional education service center) in connection with any matter relating to or involving public education (including, without limitation, any matter arising under or relating to the Texas Education Code, IDEA, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and any other federal or state law, rule, or regulation relating to education). d. An independent facilitator shall not be a member of the child’s IEP team, shall not have any decisionmaking authority, and shall remain impartial on the topics under discussion. The independent facilitator shall assist with the overall organization and conduct of the IEP team meeting by: i. Assisting the committee in establishing an agenda and setting the time allotted for the meeting; ii. Assisting the committee in establishing a set of guidelines for the meeting;
