Rio Grande Valley school districts are working to meet the first state reporting deadline under a new special education funding model now in effect in Texas.

Districts that miss the deadline risk losing funding. The new model looks at what services each student needs individually, rather than where that student receives services.

The Brownsville Independent School District said it began preparing for the change during the spring and summer. The district also applied for a state grant to help with the transition.

According to the district, about 7,200 students received special education services in Brownsville ISD last school year. That is about 20% of the district's student population.

Under the new model, the services each student receives will help determine how much state funding follows them. The model breaks student needs into eight different tiers, looking at areas including instruction, behavior, communication, and personal care.

One of the biggest tasks now is making sure the services a student receives are properly documented in that child's individualized education program.

"I believe it's a good move for us, as districts, because now we're gonna go service focus versus placement focus," Brownsville ISD Special Education Director Adriana Lippa said.

Lippa also said the shift means two students could have very different funding needs depending on the services each child requires.

"We are hoping that with this service intensity of service funding, that it would be beneficial to the school districts as it will now be focused on services provided to the students versus placement of the student in a certain setting," Lippa said.

Brownsville ISD says the hope is that any additional funding translates into more services for students, particularly as the district continues to see growth in its autism population.

That could also include more professional development for teachers, paraprofessionals and administrators, as well as resources for parents.