We’re currently planning the 2026 agenda, but for now take a look at the Pre- and Post-Institute Symposiums that were offered in 2025. These extended-length Symposiums are presented by nationally recognized experts who bring you the case law, research, and tools needed to address your toughest challenges as you strive to serve students with disabilities and their families.
2026 Symposium details will be announced in the Fall!
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Stanzione Distinguished Professor, Clemson University College of Education, S.C.
One of the most common challenges new and seasoned special educators struggle within the classroom is behavior management. In this full-day workshop, behavioral expert Dr. Joe Ryan will introduce you to a host of valuable evidence-based behavioral interventions to promote pro-social behaviors and decrease maladaptive behaviors in even the most challenging students. First, learn what makes a behavioral intervention effective and identify common pitfalls that can make an intervention unsuccessful or dangerous. Next, discover the building blocks of a strong behavior management plan that will make for a peaceful learning environment. Joe will provide tools to reduce staff stress levels and promote retention. You'll return to your school prepared to share and implement proven, evidence-based practices, a new catalog of positive interventions to employ, plus a behavior management plan that you can personalize to best meet the needs of your students.
Partner, Poyner Spruill Attorneys at Law, Raleigh, N.C.
Attorney, Poyner Spruill Attorneys at Law, Raleigh, N.C.
Due process hearings are costly. A school system may incur upwards of $1 million in legal fees to defend them. Additionally, districts can be responsible for paying the attorney’s fees of a prevailing parent, and teachers may want to leave the profession after enduring the stress of testifying. With such high stakes, schools must be proactive. In this interactive session, attorneys Rachel Hitch and Rachel Nicholas will identify key procedural considerations to help avoid due process actions when possible and to be defensible if an action is filed. They will share key considerations that should drive an IEP team’s decision-making and provide examples from case law of common claims, including child find, progress monitoring, and student discipline. Fly back to your district with practical pointers for self-correcting common mistakes and avoiding due process pitfalls. Attendees will leave the session ready to ensure IEP team decisions are ducky and defensible.
Partner, Thompson & Horton, Dallas, Texas
Sometimes, the IEP team's choice of words, the contents of the IEP, or the actions of team members can mean the difference between reaching a consensus, resolving a dispute with parents, or winning or losing a due process hearing. Join attorney Dianna Bowen to learn about how courts and hearing officers are interpreting and deciding cases regarding required components of an IEP. Then, build a list of issues for your team to check off as they are discussed during the IEP meeting. Dianna will recommend best practices for how to address difficult parent requests and concerns, verify that those requests were met with an adequate response, and document parent participation. Finally, using scenarios, Dianna will guide you through the steps for a legally compliant IEP meeting and analyze the requirements for compliant documentation. Just like a picture, learn how to create an IEP worth a thousand words!
Attorney, Brooks Pierce McLendon Humphrey and Leonard, LLP, Greensboro, N.C.
The need for formal and informal investigations arises daily in schools, whether in responding to allegations of bullying, determining appropriate discipline, or ferreting out IDEA compliance. By using a systemic approach based on the scientific method, administrators can pose questions to investigate, make predictions, gather and analyze data, and draw solid, unbiased conclusions that lead to a just result. Attorney Collins Saint will equip educators with practical strategies to conduct thorough and fair investigations, blending legal questioning tactics with the scientific method. He'll clarify just how to address unique issues affecting students with disabilities, including limited cognitive capacity, communication deficits, disability-based behaviors, closely involved parents, and emotional dysregulation concerns. Discover solid investigative techniques that ensure a comprehensive understanding of concerns, fostering a safe and inclusive school environment.
Attorney, KSB School Law, PC, LLO, Lincoln, Neb.
Attorney, KSB School Law, PC, LLO, Lincoln, Neb.
Educators, parents, and attorneys alike know that due process disputes may arise, but few have participated in a due process hearing. Join school attorneys Karen Haase and Bobby Truhe for their signature energetic and fun-filled presentation covering everything you need to know about due process. They'll guide you through each step — from the minute the district receives notice of the filing to preparation, testimony, and the hearing officer's findings. Through interactive demonstrations from actual due process proceedings, Karen and Bobby will resolve uncertainties and ensure your team is prepared for success at the hearing. Bring your questions, experiences, and willingness to collaborate on practical strategies to prepare for litigation. Leave empowered and equipped to deal with due process with a list of dos and don'ts about IEPs, prior written notice, meeting notes, and more. You'll be able to rest assured that your team is prepared to support its decisions, defend a dispute, and testify at the hearing.
Attorney, Kriha Boucek, Oakbrook Terrace, Ill.
Requests for inclusion and mainstreaming are on the rise, but what exactly does this mean? When there's a conflict between a district's responsibility to provide students FAPE and to do so in the least restrictive environment, does one requirement trump the other? Districts need to know if they are required to offer specific programs and services to provide a continuum of services and if they must play through all options on the continuum before recommending a more restrictive placement. Attorney Cassie Black will connect current trends, case law, and best practices to guide IEP teams in making a placement decision that is on par with the IDEA. She'll share takeaways including the necessary documentation to shore up the team's determination and how to get buy-in from general education staff.
Chief Officer of Special Education and Student Supports, Greenwich (Conn.) Public Schools
In today's educational landscape, an increasing number of students experience mental health issues and trauma that impact their learning and behavior. Understanding the intersection of mental health, trauma, and special education is crucial for educators and mental health professionals alike. Special education administrator Stacey Heiligenthaler will explore the complexities involved in identifying when mental health issues and trauma-related behaviors necessitate special education services. She'll share insights into assessment strategies that accurately evaluate student needs, key legal considerations under the IDEA and Section 504, and practical interventions that reveal signs of mental health issues and trauma and determine eligibility for special education services.
Attorney/Complaint Investigator, Robin Day, LLC, West Linn, Ore.
School Psychologist, Hillsboro School District, Hillsboro, Ore.
Is your team frustrated with what often feels like an emphasis on paperwork over special education instruction? Don’t allow the tidal wave of paperwork get you into hot water. Swim through documentation requirements with practical strategies offered by school attorney Robin Day and school psychologist Kelly Raf. They'll throw you a lifeline – to help you avoid the riptide with special education paperwork and streamline paperwork completion. Your staff can take time to come up for air and focus on what they do best -- serving students. Robin and Kelly will share current legal guidance on developing procedurally compliant meeting notices, prior written notices, and IEPs, as well as how to take effective meeting minutes. They'll divulge valuable tips for spotting frequent errors in paperwork and providing constructive feedback to help staff break bad habits. This practical advice will ensure staff effectively review and correct paperwork, avoid common errors, improve competence, evaluate and prioritize tasks, and ensure timely completion of essential documents! Backstroke to your district after this workshop with buckets of training material to ensure staff completes paperwork efficiently and knowing watertight documentation will minimize liability for your school district.
Attorney at Law, Richards Lindsay & Martín, LLP, Austin, Texas
Special education staff are often frustrated when parents don’t understand data or the IEP and won’t support the team’s recommendations. While the IDEA contains a host of parental rights and protections to facilitate participation in the IEP process, they don't necessarily help parents to understand special education law or recognize the considerable efforts of staff on the student’s behalf. Attorney Dave Richards shares lessons learned from doctor-patient studies to ensure meaningful parent participation in the IEP process and, by analogy, how your team can apply them to relationships with parents. These tested and proven strategies promise to enhance school staffers' understanding of complex medical issues, improve implementation of treatment recommendations and protocols, and elevate school IDEA compliance. You'll leave this session ready to build stronger, trusting relationships with parents and ensure their participation in decision-making for their child is meaningful. Doctor's orders!