New Caney ISD adds special education staff to keep up with student program growth

After New Caney ISD’s special education student population grew by about 1,800 students in the last five school years, district officials opted to add at least 75 new program staff members before the start of the 2026-27 school year.

What’s happening?

A presentation on NCISD’s special education department was given June 15, during the district’s board of trustees’ regular monthly meeting. According to the presentation, students in NCISD’s special education program:

• Grew by 547 students or 18.5% year over year (2024-25 to 2025-26)
• Rose from 1,811 students or 106.9% over the last five school years (2021-22 to 2025-26)

In the 2021-22 school year, NCISD’s special education student population made up 9.9% of the total student population, according to the June 15 presentation. By 2025-26, special education students were 17.8% of the student population.

Meanwhile, NCISD’s total student enrollment grew from 17,116 to 19,665, or 14.9%, over the last five years, from 2021-22 to 2025-26, according to the presentation.

Some of this increase in the number of NCISD students in special education programs can be attributed to the Texas Education Agency requiring students with dyslexia to be in special education programs in 2023 and after, NCISD staff said June 15.

Looking ahead

Ahead of the 2026-27 school year, which begins for students Aug. 6, NCISD officials have hired additional employees for the special education department, according to the June 15 presentation. New special education positions include:

• 20 paraprofessionals
• 19 facilitators across all campuses
• 19 teachers
• 16 assessment professionals
• District support staff