COPAA State & Local Change Makers Academy
COPAA is proud to conduct the State & Local Change Makers Academy to help develop the field of effective and knowledgeable systems change advocates. A certificate of completion is provided to students who pass the course requirements. The class is only available to COPAA members. If you are not a COPAA member, please click here to learn more about becoming a member. All COPAA courses are designed utilizing universal design principles, as we have a deep commitment to equity and student success. If you would like to discuss ADA accommodations before registering for a class or ask any general questions, please click here.
State & Local Change Makers Academy is a 100% online eight-session course for parents and advocates beginning their journey or looking to deepen their capacity to influence policy and systems change at the state and local level. Registration is now closed for the September class.
Audience
No experience is required prior to registering for State & Local Change Makers Academy.
Class Format
The class includes recorded weekly presentations, a mandatory one-hour, once-weekly live class, interactive activities during the live class, one written assignment, one performative assignment, and multiple discussion forum activities. Every student is assigned a Training Instructor (TI) 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, etcetera.) to support student understanding and engagement. Please expect three to five 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
Advancing Civil Rights for Students with Disabilities, COPAA’s Current Role and Policy Priorities; People Power: Organizing for Change at the State & Local Level; Making Change at the State Level; Creating Impact at the Local Level: How to Tell a Compelling Story that Makes Your Case; Advocating Alongside Students with Disabilities and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Families; Mastering Media for Maximum Impact; Making Change in Law and Policy.
Class Dates
State & Local Change Makers Academy will be held on Fridays from August 14th - October 2nd, 2026 from 1 - 2 pm ET.
Registration
The registration for the Change Makers Academy will begin June 15th. The registration link will be posted here at that time.
Cost
$250 Early Bird Pricing (Early Bird Pricing Ends June 30th)
$295 after June 30th
Please note this is a members-only class. You must be a member to register. For more information on COPAA membership, click here.
Cancellation Policy
Students receive a full refund if they are not accepted into the class. If accepted but the student cancels before the course registration deadline, a full refund will be provided minus a $25 administrative fee. No refunds will be provided after Wednesday, September 18, 2025. Please allow two to three weeks for refunds to be issued.
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. State & Local Change Makers Academy 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 a first-come, first-served 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.
