Beginner Special Education Advocate Training (BSEAT)TM is a national, 100% online, twelve-session course for advocates beginning their journey to become a non-attorney special education advocate. A certificate of completion is provided upon completing course requirements.
Parent Training and Information Centers, disability rights nonprofit organizations, and advocacy organizations enroll their employees in this class because it provides a solid foundation in non-attorney special education advocacy. Parents also frequently take this course to learn how to better advocate for their own child(ren).
The next class will be held in April 2026. We will hold three cohorts, you will select the cohort that best fits your schedule. The first class will be 90 minutes in length to review the online classroom.
Sundays, 5 pm - 6 pm ET April 12, 19, 26 May 3, 10, 17, 26 (class held Tuesday at 8 pm ET due to Memorial Day weekend), 31 June 7, 14, 21, 28
Tuesdays, 11 am - 12 pm ET, April 7, 14, 21, 28, May 5, 12, 19, 26, June 2, 9, 16, 23
Thursdays , 1 pm - 2 pm ET, April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, May 7, 14, 21, 28, June 4, 11, 18
Registration will be in March. If you are a COPAA member or registered guest, you will receive an email that provides the date and time that registration opens. Please note it in your calendar, as the class fills up very quickly.
All COPAA courses are developed using universal design principles, reflecting our strong commitment to equity and student success. If you would like to discuss ADA accommodations or have any general questions about our classes, please feel free to contact us.
Audience We recommend starting with BSEAT 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 toward those two years of experience). No experience is required to register for the class. A certificate of completion is provided to students who complete the course requirements
Class Format
100% online, personalized feedback from an instructor on two assignments, Q&A and interactive activities led by an instructor during the live class, handouts and additional resources to support your advocacy, and a class discussion for extension activities to engage in course content and interact with peers. Please expect 4-5 hours of work a week (including class time). If that does not 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 (history of the Disability Rights movement), Section 504 & ADA, Child Find, Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE), Least Restrictive Environment (LRE), Understanding Evaluations, the IEP Process, Post-Secondary Transition, Discipline, the IEP Document, Written Communication in Advocacy, Unauthorized Practice of the Law (UPL), Issue Spotting, Pre-meeting Preparation, Managing the IEP Conversation, Post-meeting Follow Up, Advocate Ethics, Advocating for Highly Mobile Students (unhoused, military), Advocating for Multilingual Families, Self-Advocacy, and more! Click here to review BSEAT's core competencies.
Class Dates
Sundays, 5 pm - 6 pm ET April 12, 19, 26 May 3, 10, 17, 26 (class held Tuesday at 8 pm ET due to Memorial Day weekend), 31 June 7, 14, 21, 28
Tuesdays, 11 am - 12 pm ET, April 7, 14, 21, 28, May 5, 12, 19, 26, June 2, 9, 16, 23
Thursdays , 1 pm - 2 pm ET, April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, May 7, 14, 21, 28, June 4, 11, 18
Registration
Registration for the Beginner Special Education Advocacy Training class is closed. The next course will be held in April 2026.
In the meantime, we have many learning opportunities in our Learning Center.
Cost
$799 for members | $925 for guest
Cancellation policy
Students receive a full refund if they are not accepted into the class. Specific cancellation information is provided in the registration for each cohort.
Scholarships
A limited number of qualified individuals whose family income is at or below two times the federal poverty level or who have extenuating circumstances may apply for a COPAA training registration fee discount. BSEAT scholarships cover 80% of the course costs. After you register for the class (select “pay by check” when you get to the payment portion of the registration), immediately send your scholarship request with proof that you meet the poverty guidelines (i.e., the first two pages of your federal tax return) to learningcenter@copaa.org. Requests are considered on first-come basis. After receiving your scholarship documents, a COPAA Representative will contact you to confirm eligibility and availability of the scholarships. Click here for the current Federal Guidelines. Only students who are registered for the course are considered for a scholarship.
Registration Policy
Per COPAA bylaws, any individual who currently receives more than 50% of their income from a state or local education agency, or, in the case of an attorney, has represented such an agency or school district within the past five years, shall not be permitted to register or attend a COPAA educational event unless a formal exception is granted. Click here for more information regarding membership, guest membership, and the full eligibility policy.
