IEP Beacon

I picked the perfect ribbon to attach to my COPAA Conference 2025 badge as I’m ready to board my flight to Dallas after a 7 hour layover in Las Vegas.😮‍💨🥱😴

However tired I might be, I wouldn’t replace the time I was able to spend learning, growing and collaborating with other passionate special education advocates and attorneys!

I am thrilled to share that I have been selected by the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities (TCDD) to participate in the 2024-2025 Partners in Policymaking Class! I am eager to continue learning and growing to become a stronger advocate for myself, my family, and the individuals and students I am privileged to serve!

Last chance to apply! Applications for Texas Partners in Policymaking close this Friday, March 22. Partners is a premier advocacy training opportunity for people with developmental disabilities (DD) and family members of people with DD. Connect with peers, gain confidence in your leadership skills, and learn how to create lasting change in your community.

We want to connect with you! Apply today and join our growing alumni of Partners in Texas: https://txpartners.org/apply/

Looking forward to expanding my knowledge and training at this year’s COPAA conference!

Advocacy 2024 “Special Education and Discipline: Putting Law and Advocacy into Practice”

This intensive and interactive two-day training is structured to help both parents and advocates successfully navigate the real-life struggles within special education advocacy, with a view toward discipline and behavior interventions. Training is provided through practice, simulation, and quick guides on the use of the law, negotiation, and strategy for IEP meetings, manifestation determination reviews, expulsion hearings, mediations, settlement conferences and agreements, and Due Process and Section 504 Hearings (NOTE: this training is not intended to prepare advocates to represent parents/students in hearings). There are whole group and small group activities, and discussions are differentiated based on the skill level of the participants.

Presenters:
Melissa (Missy) Alexander
Catherine Michael

REGISTER NOW
https://www.copaa.org/page/2024-conference-register

The recent news story serves as a warning that the issue affecting Georgia's school district is part of a larger, national trend. With one-quarter of students in Georgia facing this battle, it's clear that a more substantial response than taking parents to court is needed.

“This isn’t an isolated problem,” said Stephen Owens, education director at the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute. “This is a statewide, nationwide issue.”

Georgia mom fires back after school board recommends she be charged for child's chronic absenteeism “It was an assault on my character is what it felt like,” she said.