Texas School Districts: OT & SLP Staffing for the ESA Surge
Texas special education enrollment has nearly doubled since 2014. The ESA voucher program tripled IEP evaluation requests. Half of TX districts report SLP shortages. All Care Therapies delivers the bilingual, scalable therapy staffing Texas schools need, across all 20 ESC regions.
620K+
Students with IEPs in Texas, nearly doubled since 2014
Source: TEA / OSEP
176K+
ESA voucher applications for 2026-2027
Source: TEA
50%
of TX districts report SLP shortages
Source: ASHA Schools Survey
37%
Projected SLP job growth in TX through 2030
Source: BLS
Built for Texas's Unique Challenges
The ESA surge, the 8.5% cap aftermath, and rural access barriers create a perfect storm of unmet need. ACT is built for it.
ESA Evaluation Surge Capacity
Texas's $1 billion ESA voucher program triggered 176,000+ family applications. 13.5% identified as having students with disabilities, and IEP evaluation requests tripled in suburban districts. ACT provides the evaluation capacity to clear backlogs within the 45 school-day FIIE timeline.
Bilingual Evaluations & Services
The Rio Grande Valley, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and El Paso have massive bilingual service demand. ACT's bilingual SLPs and OTs conduct evaluations and deliver therapy in Spanish, ensuring proper identification and effective treatment for ELL students.
PEIMS-Aligned Documentation
All ACT documentation aligns with Texas PEIMS reporting requirements. Session logs, progress reports, and service data support your district's state reporting and TEA compliance needs.
ESC Regional Coverage
Texas has 20 ESC regions, many in rural areas with zero local SLP providers. ACT's teletherapy model reaches every ESC region, from the Rio Grande Valley (ESC 1) to the Panhandle (ESC 16) to West Texas (ESC 17/18).
Post-Cap Identification Support
Texas's illegal 8.5% identification cap (2004-2017) suppressed special education identification for over a decade. Since removal, autism identification alone went from 8,650 to 119,641 students. Districts need therapy capacity they never had to staff for.
Serving Districts Across All 20 ESC Regions
ACT provides teletherapy and on-site therapy services to school districts throughout Texas, from major urban areas to rural communities with limited provider access.
Major Urban Districts
Large districts facing high caseloads, bilingual demand, and ESA evaluation surges
Fast-Growing Suburban
Rapidly expanding districts where student growth outpaces therapy staffing
Rio Grande Valley & Border
Communities with critical bilingual service needs and limited local SLP pipeline
Rural & West Texas
Districts where teletherapy is the only viable model, no local providers within commuting distance
Texas Charter Schools
Texas is home to hundreds of charter schools with distributed campuses and growing special education populations. Our teletherapy model serves students across all your sites from a centralized team, with flexible contracts for any school size.
Let's Talk About Your District's Needs
Whether you're managing the ESA evaluation surge, clearing a backlog, or staffing for next year, we're ready to help your Texas district.
Important Notices
Data & Statistics: Market data, shortage statistics, enrollment figures, and vacancy counts cited on this page are derived from publicly available federal, state, and professional organization sources including the U.S. Department of Education (OSEP/IDEA), Bureau of Labor Statistics, ASHA, state departments of education, and district reports. Figures may reflect estimates, projections, or point-in-time snapshots and are subject to change. All Care Therapies does not independently verify all third-party data.
Services & Availability: Services described on this page are subject to therapist availability, state-specific licensing and credentialing requirements, and district-level agreements. Service delivery timelines, staffing models, and language availability may vary by location and are not guaranteed. "Fast onboarding" and similar language refers to typical timelines and does not constitute a binding commitment.
Compliance: All Care Therapies provides documentation and services designed to support IDEA, IEP, and state compliance requirements. However, ultimate responsibility for IEP compliance, FAPE obligations, and regulatory adherence remains with the school district. Information on this page does not constitute legal advice.
Telehealth: Teletherapy effectiveness references are based on published research and clinical practice evidence. Individual student outcomes may vary based on diagnosis, age, service type, facilitator support, and other factors. Teletherapy is permitted in schools in CA, TX, and NV as of the date of this page; regulatory requirements may change.