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Schedule

Virtual SELS is a week-long experience with the Monday and Tuesday dedicated to training on advocacy and key issues. Wednesday to Friday will be a series of scheduled meetings with members of Congress and their staff (schedule TBD and varied by state).

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12 pm EST Doctoral/Graduate Student Session Kickoff Sponsored by the Teacher Education Division of CEC, this session will prepare Doctoral and Graduate students for the SELS experience. Register Here
2 pm EST

Opening Session

Join us for the 2021 SELS Kickoff. Leaders of both CEC and CASE will provide a rundown of the week’s activities and prepare leaders for another exciting SELS week.

2:30 pm EST

Washington Update / Town Hall

It’s great to have advocates on Capitol Hill, such as Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD). In this session, we will hear from the Senator on the state of support for IDEA in Congress and where we are headed in the coming year.

3:15 pm EST Break
3:30 pm EST

The Appropriations Panel: Is it Really All About the Funding?

This panel will bring together experienced policy experts from across the country with practitioners to discuss key topics of interest to special education professionals.  The panel will include the following people:

  • Danny Carlson, Associate Executive Director, Policy and Advocacy, National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP)
  • Sara Cohen, Assistant Director, Governmental Relations, American Federation of Teachers
  • Valerie Williams, Director of Governmental Relations, National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE)
  • Kuna Tavalin (Moderator), Senior Policy Advisor, Council for Exceptional Children
5:00 pm EST

Optional Evening Sessions If your division, group or caucus would like to have a social or programmed gathering, time has been set aside to do so. The following events been been scheduled--check back for updates.

2 pm EST Opening Session
2:15 pm EST

Issue Brief Deep Dive - Personnel Shortage

This panel will bring together experienced policy experts from across the country with practitioners to discuss key topics of interest to special education professionals.  The panel will include the following people:

  • Dr. Kaitlyn Brennan, Education Policy Consultant
  • Jarrod Hobson, Policy & Research-Intensive Special Educator (PRISE) Scholars, Virginia Commonwealth University
  • Regina Howard-Frazier, Policy & Research-Intensive Special Educator (PRISE) Scholars, Virginia Commonwealth University
  • Dr. Naomi Ondrasek, Senior Researcher and Policy Advisor, Learning Policy Institute
  • Dr. Jane West, Consultant, Teacher Education Division, Council for Exceptional Children and Higher Education Consortium for Special Education
  • Laurie VanderPloeg (Moderator), Association Executive Director, Council for Exceptional Children
3:30 pm EST Break
3:45 pm EST

Issue Brief Deep Dive: Mental Health

This panel will bring together experienced policy experts from across the country with practitioners to discuss key topics of interest to special education professionals.  The panel will include the following people:

  • Dr. Amanda Fitzgerald, Director of Public Policy, American School Counselors Association
  • Dr. Sharon Hoover, Ph.D., Co-Director, Center for School Mental Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine
  • Dr. Byron McClure, Ph.D, School Psychologist, Anacostia High School
  • Dr. Kelly Vaillancourt-Strobach, Director of Policy and Advocacy, National Association of School Psychologists
  • Myrna Mandlawitz (Moderator), Policy and Legislative Consultant, Council of Administrators of Special Education
5:00 pm EST

Optional State Events

Time has been set aside on the schedule for state team leaders to gather your group to connect, strategic and prepare for your Hill visits.

 

Wednesday to Friday will be a series of scheduled meetings with members of Congress and their staff. These schedules will vary by district and state.

Last Updated:  28 April, 2021

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