Business of Special Education Advocacy
The Business of Special Education Advocacy is a national, 100% online, five-session class for advocates starting a nonprofit or for-profit advocacy business. The focus is on the practical issues of business formation and operation; this class does not teach how to advocate.
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. Contact Us
Audience: The class is designed for students who completed SEAT 2.0 and are ready to start their business or nonprofit, or have experience/training as an advocate and want to refine their business model.
Topics Covered: Legal Structure, Business Plans, Billing Structure, Client Intake, Operations, Marketing, and Difficult Situations, which are all taught by experienced non-attorney special education advocates and nonprofit professionals.
Class Dates: The next class will be held July 2026. The exact dates are TBD. Live online attendance is encouraged, but not required (all classes are recorded).
Registration: The registration for the Business of Special Education Advocacy class is now closed. The next course will be in July of 2026. Coming Soon
In the meantime, we have a How to Open a New Special Education Law Practice learning path (which may also be useful to advocates) in our Learning Center. You can find it it by visiting learn.copaa.org and searching by keyword.
Format: The class is a self-paced course with a certificate of attendance at the end. You can join the classes live or watch the recordings. Live online attendance is encouraged but not required. You should attend the live online classes if you wish to ask the instructors questions directly. Class recordings are posted in the online classroom. You will be assigned a TA with whom you can communicate outside class times. There are recommended assignments and the opportunity to turn in a business plan for feedback at the end of the course. The curriculum draws on the experience of advocates who started their own for-profit or nonprofit businesses and reviews the challenges, concerns, and solutions they developed. The class addresses issues generally, as the laws that impact business operations differ among localities and include unique business development and marketing strategies.
Cancelation policy: If you aren't accepted into the class, you will receive a full refund. The cancelation policy for each cohort is posted in the registration.
Cost: The cost of the class is $450 for COPAA members, and $600 for registered guests.
Scholarship Discount
A limited number of qualified individuals whose family income is at or below 2 x the federal poverty level or who have extenuating circumstances may apply for a SEAT registration fee discount. The discounted tuition is 20% of full tuition rate.
Requests will be considered on first come basis. To apply for consideration you must complete the online application for the Business of Special Education Class, noting in the comments box you are applying for a scholarship and select pay by check to complete without payment. Then send a letter of request with proof that you meet the poverty guidelines (i.e. the first two pages of your federal tax return) to learningcenter@copaa.org.
A COPAA Representative will contact you to confirm eligibility and availability. Click here for current Federal Guidelines
Registration Policy
Registration and attendance to COPAA educational events is NOT open to anyone who is not a member of COPAA OR does not meet eligibility. Any individual who currently receives more than 50% of his/her income from state, local, or, in the case of an attorney, who 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 by the Executive Director of COPAA. Click here to apply for an exception.
