Tennessee Council for Exceptional Children (TNCEC)

08/23/2026

📣 Join us for TNCEC’s upcoming FREE webinar!

On Thursday, August 27, we’ll host:

IEPs as Tools for Advocacy
What Parents Wish Teachers Knew: Building Relationships Before the First Meeting

This session will focus on the importance of building strong, collaborative relationships with families before the first IEP meeting even begins.

We’re also excited to welcome our presenters, Alicia Pence, Ph.D., and Elizabeth Rossi, Ph.D., from Middle Tennessee State University.

🗓 Thursday, August 27
⏰ 3:30–4:30 p.m. CST | 4:30–5:30 p.m. EST
💻 Free to attend

Scan the QR code on the flyer to register, and please feel free to share with colleagues who may be interested!

08/21/2026

Know a student who shows the world what’s possible? Nominate them for a CEC Yes I Can Award! The Yes I Can Awards celebrate students with disabilities who have demonstrated achievement, leadership, community involvement, and a commitment to making a difference.

Learn more and submit a nomination: https://exceptionalchildren.org/awards/yes-i-can-awards-cec-national

08/21/2026

📣 Reminder: TNCEC’s FREE Fall Webinar Series begins next week!

Join us on August 27 for the first session in our three-part series:

IEPs as Tools for Advocacy: Bridging the Gap with Families to Enable Meaningful IEPs

Our first webinar, What Parents Wish Teachers Knew: Building Relationships Before the First Meeting, will focus on the importance of building strong family-school relationships before the IEP meeting even begins.

🗓 August 27
⏰ 3:30–4:30 PM CST | 4:30–5:30 PM EST
💻 FREE to attend

Scan the QR code on the graphic to register, and please share with colleagues who may be interested.

We hope you’ll join us!

08/20/2026

📣 **TNCEC MEMBERS: Back-to-School Membership Savings!**

CEC is offering a special **20% discount** for returning and renewing members!

🍎 **Now through September 18**, use promo code **CECBTS26** when renewing your CEC membership to save **20%** on your membership for the upcoming year.

This is a great time to renew, stay connected with the special education community, and continue taking advantage of your CEC and TNCEC member benefits.

✅ **Discount Code:** CECBTS26
📅 **Offer ends:** September 18

Please share with colleagues who may be ready to renew their CEC membership!

08/19/2026

The Council for Exceptional Children’s Racial Justice Grant encourages and supports work focused on addressing the issues related to the ongoing racial disparities in educational experiences, opportunities, and outcomes for individuals with disabilities from minoritized racial groups.

Find out more and apply now: https://exceptionalchildren.org/awards/racial-justice-grant

08/04/2026

📣 Join us this fall for a FREE Tennessee CEC Professional Development Webinar Series!

Strong partnerships with families are at the heart of meaningful, student-centered IEPs. Whether you’re a special educator, general educator, administrator, related service provider, or teacher candidate, this three-part webinar series will provide practical strategies for building trust, strengthening collaboration, and creating IEPs that truly support students and families.

🍎 Topics include:
• Building relationships with families before the first IEP meeting
• Creating family-friendly IEPs that foster trust
• Strengthening collaboration while ensuring legal compliance

🗓 Wednesdays: August 27, September 24, and October 29
🕞 3:30–4:30 p.m. CT | 4:30–5:30 p.m. ET

Registration is FREE! Register here today: https://bit.ly/3TUxqoo

Please help us spread the word by sharing this post with colleagues, educators, administrators, and families who may be interested. We hope you’ll join us this fall!

08/03/2026

Join us tomorrow on Tuesday, August 4, at 2:30 pm ET/8:30 am HT, for a livestreamed spotlight forum on interagency agreements that will harm students with disabilities, led by U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI). CEC's Laurie VanderPloeg will be included on the panel of experts.

Head to Senator Hirono's YouTube channel for the livestream: https://www.youtube.com/

08/03/2026

📚✨ Tennessee CEC educators, stakeholders, and friends, the new school year is here! Be sure to check your email and visit the TN-CEC website—our latest newsletter has been published and is packed with resources, updates, professional learning opportunities, and tools to help you kick off a successful school year.

As schools across Tennessee welcome students back, remember that TN-CEC is here to support you every step of the way. Here’s to a year of learning, collaboration, and making a difference for students with exceptionalities! 💙🍎❤️

Read the newsletter here: https://canva.link/uxpybyuuwzedgoz

Check out this US Letter designed by Allison Oliver.

07/28/2026

Take advantage of these Quick Takes provided by CIDDL! They are perfect for K-12 educators! Browse their library below and take advantage of these free resources!

This CEC and CIDDL partnership is designed for busy educators; these bite-sized sessions make it easy to stay ahead of the curve and use AI to support every learner’s success. From foundational AI concepts to hands-on tools and responsible implementation, you’ll gain practical insights you can apply right away. New sessions will be added each month and will be available live and as recordings.

Learn more: https://learn.exceptionalchildren.org/quick-takes-artificial-intelligence

Watch full sessions: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLI-_iLQnpei4&si=p-Z4qf5Ao417zPcb

07/26/2026

The Council for Exceptional Children is proud to support the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 36th Anniversary. On July 26th we celebrate this important civil rights law that works to ensure all people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. Celebrate with us by visiting: adaanniversary.org