Special Education Advocate Training (SEAT)TM 1.0 Credential is a 100% online ten-session course for parents and new advocates beginning their journey to become a non-attorney special education advocate. The SEAT 1.0 course in August is now full and the waitlist is closed. The next class will be held in October, exact dates and times TBD Coming Soon
Parent Training and Information Centers, disability rights nonprofit organizations, and advocacy organizations enroll their employees in this class because it provides a strong foundation in the field of non-attorney special education advocacy. We also train parents from across the country.
Audience: We recommend starting with SEAT 1.0 if you have fewer than two years of experience as a non-attorney special education advocate (advocating for your child or working within a school district does not count towards those two years of experience). No experience is required prior to registering for SEAT 1.0.
Class Format: The class includes live Q&A, interactive activities, one open book midterm, one written assignment, and several forum activities. Every student is assigned a Teaching Assistant (TA) who provides personalized feedback on assignments and is available to answer clarifying questions in between class sessions. Classes are recorded and course materials are provided in advance (PDFs of the PPT used in a recording or live session, handouts, videos, etc.) to support student understanding and engagement. Please expect 4-5 hours of work a week (including class time). If that doesn't work with your current schedule, please check the Learning Center for different training opportunities (including on-demand learning paths).
Topics Covered: Education is a Civil Right, Section 504 & ADA To Advocate For Student Rights, What Makes Special Education Special (review of specially designed instruction, SST, RTI, MTSS, difference between accommodations and modifications), Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) and Least Restrictive Environment (LRE), The IEP Process, Tests and Measurements, The IEP Document and Special Education Services, Written Communication in Advocacy, Managing The IEP Conversation, and Issue Spotting and Researching Legal Issues.
Calendar: SEAT 1.0 is held in January (registration is in November), August (registration is in May), and October (registration is in August) annually.
The August dates for the class are as follows (this class is full): August 8, August 15, August 22, August 29, September 5, September 12, September 19, September 26, October 3, and October 10th from 1 PM - 3 PM ET / 10 AM - 12 PM PT. We will hold the class again in October, the dates and times are TBD.
Registration, Class Dates, & Cost: SEAT 1.0 is held multiple times a year. If you are COPAA member or registered guest, you will receive a registration email when registration opens. Please note SEAT 1.0 is a popular class and fills up very quickly. You will want to register as soon as registration opens. The cost of the class is $775 for members and $900 for guests.
Cancellation Policy for August 2024 Class: If not accepted in the course, students receive a full refund. If accepted but the student cancels before 07/12/24, full refund minus $100 admin fee. No refunds are provided after student cancellation on or after 07/13/2024. Please allow up to 2-3 weeks for refunds to be issued.
Special Education Advocate Training (SEAT) 2.0 Credential a 100% online. 27-session course with a 40-hour practicum. It is the only nationally developed and recognized course that provides participants with intermediate-level training to deepen the knowledge and skills of practicing non-attorney special education advocates. The application for SEAT 2.0 October 2024 - May 2025 cohort is now open! There is no cost to apply, once accepted the the class cost is $2300 for COPAA members and $2500 for registered guests. You will be charged 30% to hold your spot upon acceptance and the remainder of the balance is charged in September.
Parent Training and Information Centers, disability rights organizations, and advocacy organizations enroll their more experienced advocates in this course because there is no other training in the field as in-depth. We also train advocates from across the country who run their own non-attorney advocacy business.
Audience: The class is at the intermediate-level (at least two years of experience as a non-attorney special education advocate paid or unpaid is highly recommended). There is an application process for the class, it is not first-come, first serve), knowledge and familiarity with IDEA and other applicable laws is expected, and prior training (SEAT 1.0 or similar) is strongly encouraged.
Class Format: There are 13 assignments, including one capstone project, and one open-book midterm. The class features live Q&A with instructors, optional live TA Q&A, each student is assigned a TA for personalized feedback on assignments and clarifying questions outside of class time. Classes are recorded so you can view them more than once and course materials are provided in advance (PDFs of the PPT used in a recording or live session, handouts, videos, etc. that assist students to engage and understand the session's materials).
Topics Covered: Click here to review the core competencies the course will cover. If you want to learn more about the history of the course development, please click here.
Registration, Class Dates, & Cost: SEAT 2.0 will be held from October 18th 2024 - May 16th, 2025. The class is held once a year and is 27 sessions in length. Class is not held Nov 29 (Fall Break), Dec 20 (Winter Break), Dec 27 (Winter Break), and March 6 COPAA Conference. The cost of the class is $2350 for COPAA members and $2500 for guests. Cancelation information is provided during registration.
