2026 COPAA Conference On-Demand Recordings are Now Available
Purchase now - https://www.copaa.org/page/2026-conference-on-demand

COPAA - Council of Parents Attorneys and Advocates 2 likes. "Unstoppable Parents Navigating Special Education Services #COPAA #NavigateED #UnstoppableAdvocacy"

🎙️ New Podcast Alert! Unstoppable Parents: Navigating Special Education Services
Join Denise M,  as she interviews Raja Marhaba, founder and CEO of the Jonathan Foundation.

A picture of Missy A. and Theresa S. at the 28th Annual COPAA Conference in Crystal City

A picture of Missy A. and Theresa S. at the 28th Annual COPAA Conference in Crystal City

Join the COPAA Parent Committee TONIGHT w/Missy A. & Theresa S. At this meeting, the committee will discuss Myths vs Facts in Special Education: What Schools Say vs What the Law Says.
 Register now - learn.copaa.org/products/parent-meetings...

Graphic featuring Lucia Frohling for SEAT 2.0 Alumni Spotlight, with a photo of Lucia Frohling and a quote about What are you currently working on

Graphic featuring Lucia Frohling for SEAT 2.0 Alumni Spotlight, with a photo of Lucia Frohling and a quote about What are you currently working on

SEAT 2.0 Alumni Spotlight - Lucia Frohling
What are you currently working on?
Lucia shared valuable insights. Check out her inspiring reply!

Learn more about the Special Education Advocate Training (SEAT)® 2.0 - https://learn.copaa.org/classes

#COPAA #SEAT #Advocate #Learn #Connect

A picture of a blue background with the text "Advocate Late Night" and the COPAA logo

Join David & Cynthia for Advocate Late Nite TONIGHT at 9 PM ET for some engaging discussions!
This week’s topic is "Burnout, Boundaries, & the Savior Complex."
Register now https://learn.copaa.org/p/advocatelatenite2026
Tag another advocate in the comments below
#AdvocateLateNite

Tennessee says Memphis pulls too many students with disabilities from taking state tests Memphis-Shelby County Schools designated 2,500 students with disabilities to take alternative state tests last year. That means 1,500 more than the federal cap are facing limited education paths.

Memphis under scrutiny for placing students w/disabilities on assessments.

Daily Living: Navigating Special Education | Muscular Dystrophy Association Meet Our Presenters: Shannon Wood, Director of Disability Policy at MDA Shannon Wood joined MDA in 2024 as Director of Disability Policy, where she works to ensure that members of the neuromuscular community can learn, work, travel and socialize without discrimination by advancing policies that maximize our community’s access to key programs and services. Prior to joining MDA, Shannon served as Director of Advocacy and Policy at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, where she advocated on health and disability policy issues impacting people affected by MS.

Our very own Lucia F. presented for the Muscular Dystrophy Association on Navigating Special Education. 
Watch the recording now! - www.mda.org/care/community-ed/mda-vi...
 #MDA #SpecialEducation #Inclusion

Advocates worry universal open enrollment will exclude students with disabilities In Wisconsin, school districts last year rejected open enrollment applications from students with disabilities at twice the rate of other students.

Advocates in NH warn that universal open enrollment could leave students w/disabilities behind.

A picture of Daysi O. at our 20th annual COPAA Conference.

Exciting news! 

Our BSEAT Español is FULL! 🎉
A big thanks to Daysi and the Oak Foundation. 

Join the waitlist and stay tuned for updates!
🔗https://learn.copaa.org/bseatespanol

#COPAA #BSEAT #Español

Some charter schools are pooling their resources to improve special education Almost a dozen New Orleans charter schools are working together, led by the district, for the first time to better support students with special needs.

Many public schools, charter or not. are struggling to meet the high costs & complex needs of students w/disabilities. 
www.wwno.org/education/2026-04-01/som...
#SpecialEducation #NOLA #EdResources

A picture of David Jefferson and Chaunta Tsegaye

Join COPAA's Social and Racial Equity Committee (SREC) monthly meeting this Friday, April 17th, at 11 AM ET with David J. & Chaunta T. 
Register now and be part of the conversation learn.copaa.org/products/srec-monthly-me...

#COPAA #SREC

Judge ends federal oversight of special education in New Orleans schools • Louisiana Illuminator After years of good marks from a court-appointed independent monitor, the Orleans Parish School Board and the Department of Education formally requested to be released from federal monitoring.

After a decade, a judge has ended the consent decree that imposed FED oversight of SPED in New Orleans schools. Parents & advocates say violations persist, but the court nonetheless ruled conditions have improved enough to lift it.

#ThrowbackThursday w/Daysi Ortiz, at the 28th annual COPAA conference.
Join us for Hablemos de Educación Especial TODAY at 1 PM/ET
Register: learn.copaa.org/products/hablemos-de-edu...
BSEAT® Spanish opens -2:30 PM/ET
Register: https://learn.copaa.org/bseatespanol

Blue Room: Restraining and secluding the state’s most vulnerable students Read More at Inside Investigator >>

CT’s use of restraint & seclusion on students, mostly young kids w/ disabilities, keeps rising. Despite reforms, incidents jumped 28% in a decade, topping 30k last year. 

White background with COPAA logo with text that reads Weekly News

Chairman Cassidy to Host Roundtable on Child Literacy & Students w/Dyslexia
🔗https://www.youtube.com/live/cEd06IjSD9k
🔗cdn.ymaws.com/www.copaa.org/resource/c...

#Dyslexia #COPAA #HELP

Connection is key!  
Join us at COPAA to build lasting relationships among families, advocates, and attorneys. 
Explore membership and our Learning Center!
Stay tuned for updates!
🔗https://www.copaa.org/

#COPAA

Únase a COPAA para Hablemos de Educación Especial el jueves 16 de abril a la 1:00 PM (hora del este) / 10:00 AM (hora del Pacífico).
Regístrese ahora: learn.copaa.org/products/hablemos-de-edu...

ALT - Un video de Daysi Ortiz

A picture of David Jefferson

A picture of Chaunta Tsegaye

Join COPAA's Social and Racial Equity Committee (SREC) monthly meeting this Friday, April 17th, at 11 AM ET with David J. and Chaunta T.
💡This meeting is for members only.
Register now -learn.copaa.org/products/srec-monthly-me...
 #SREC

These blind students say their college blocked their education. A new rule could help Higher education is especially reliant on computers and phones, but accessibility for people with disabilities has often been forgotten. A new federal rule could change that.

ADA rules are reshaping digital access in higher ED! By April 2026, public colleges must make websites, apps & course content fully accessible under WCAG 2.1 AA—finally leveling playing field students.

A picture of Missy A. and Theresa S. at the 28th Annual COPAA Conference in Crystal City.

Join us on March 20th at 6 PM ET for Myths vs. Facts in Special Education, with Missy A. and Theresa S.
Open to members only! 
Don’t miss out—register now! learn.copaa.org/products/parent-meetings...
#COPAA #SPED

Promotional graphic for the COPAA 28th Annual Conference. 28th Annual COPAA Conference Event details include, 28th Annual COPAA Conference On-Demand Recordings with COPAA branding and a U.S. Capitol illustration in the background

28th Annual COPAA Conference On-Demand Recordings are Now Available
Get yours today and dive into the learning you’ve been waiting for - https://www.copaa.org/page/2026-conference-on-demand

#COPAA #OnDemand #COPAA2026

A picture of a blue background with the text "Advocate Late Night" and the COPAA logo

Join David and Cynthia for Advocate Late Nite TONIGHT at 9 PM ET!
This week’s topic: The Business of Advocacy.
Register for reminders - https://learn.copaa.org/p/advocatelatenite2026
Tag an advocate! 
#AdvocateLateNite

Featuring a blue and white background with a computer screen, the text reads: "BSEAT® Spanish – Fundamentals of Special Education Advocacy, Thursday, April 16, 2026, at 2:30 p.m. ET."

Exciting news! 
Registration for BSEAT® Spanish – Fundamentals of Special Education Advocacy opens April 16, 2026, at 2:30 p.m. ET. 
Sign up at: https://learn.copaa.org/bseatespanol 

#COPAA #Spanish #BSEAT

Minnesota Reconsiders K–3 Suspension Ban as Classroom Violence and Staff Injuries Rise | MinneapoliMedia Minnesota lawmakers are weighing a limited rollback of the K–3 suspension ban as rising classroom violence and staff injuries intensify debate over safety and discipline.

Minnesota is rethinking its K‑3 suspension ban as districts report rising classroom evacuations and staff injuries. Lawmakers may allow limited 3‑day suspensions.

A picture of David Beinke at the COPAA Conference.

❤️ Let's support David in his recovery after his stroke. 
Donations will help with caregiver costs and home improvements.
Every bit counts! 
Please share: https://gofund.me/d97632a24 
 #SupportDavid

Schools have the upper hand when accused of special education shortcomings. That might change. • Louisiana Illuminator In Louisiana, when a family and school disagree over how a student with special needs is being taught, it falls on the family to prove the school has failed to properly serve their child.

Louisiana lawmakers are considering a major shift in SPED disputes, flipping the burden so schools, not families, must prove students are properly served. Advocates say it could level the playing field for parents navigating the system.

Shemica A., along w/Laura N. and Chris R., will engage 20 motivated students in a dynamic Louisiana Student Self-Advocacy Training. 
They explore topics like Understanding Disabilities & Life After High School. 
Proud to support future leaders! 
#SelfAdvocacy #YouthAdvocacy #COPAA #NOLA

A picture of a blue background with the text "Advocate Late Night" and the COPAA logo

Calling All Advocates!
Advocate Late Nite is now in the  Learning Center this Sunday w/David & Cynthia discussing "The Business of Advocacy." Register for reminders: https://learn.copaa.org/p/advocatelatenite2026 #AdvocateLateNite

#AdvocateLateNite #SpecialEducation #Advocacy #LearningCenter

Idaho districts face $100+ million SPED funding gap for services like nurses and ASL interpreters. State lawmakers advanced a bill creating a $5M fund, but some questioned whether schools should provide health services at all.

Senate committee advances bill to create state enforcement for disability rights in schools The Senate Education Committee advanced SB125, creating a state complaint and enforcement pathway for Section 504/ADA rights in K‑12 schools amid reduced federal capacity; the bill passed the committee as amended and was sent to appropriations.

The Colorado Senate's ED Committee has advanced a bill to enhance state-level enforcement of Section 504 rights, w/closed OCR office.