Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, Inc.

Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, Inc. COPAA Protects the Legal and Civil Rights of Students with Disabilities and their Families Nationwide

COPAA’s mission is to protect and enforce the legal and civil rights of students with disabilities and their families. Our primary goal is to secure high quality educational services and to promote excellence in advocacy.

Considering membership with COPAA? We have options for everyone! - Attorney Membership - Advocate Member - Allied Pro...
08/24/2026

Considering membership with COPAA? We have options for everyone!

- Attorney Membership
- Advocate Member
- Allied Professional Member
- Parent Member
- Military Parent Member
- Student Member
- Organization Member

Each membership includes:
✅ Online Connections
✅ Member Directory
✅ Training and Education
✅ Members’ Library
✅ Access to our annual conference and much more!

Join us and become part of a vibrant community dedicated to making a difference.

Sign up today!
Send us a DM or https://www.copaa.org/page/joinus

Thank you, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), for championing our children and hosting the Special Education Roundtable tod...
08/20/2026

Thank you, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), for championing our children and hosting the Special Education Roundtable today to bring together parents, educators, administrators, advocates, and other stakeholders to discuss the challenges facing students with disabilities and their families.

Department of Education Requires Schools to Eliminate Race Consideration in Student Discipline Today, in new guidance is...
08/19/2026

Department of Education Requires Schools to Eliminate Race Consideration in Student Discipline

Today, in new guidance issued to educational institutions via a Dear Colleague Letter (DCL), Kim Richey, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights told schools that discipline policies must “treat students even-handedly and must neither favor nor disfavor any student based on their race.” To support the removal of the requirement to consider race in the discipline of students, the DCL states, “neither Title VI nor the Constitution requires the use of race in student discipline and that the use or consideration of race in student discipline violates Title VI and the Constitution absent truly extraordinary circumstances that satisfy strict scrutiny.” According to the U.S. Department of Education (ED) press release, the guidance follows ED’s rulemaking in July that removed several disparate impact provisions from Federal regulations implementing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI). Along with the new guidance, ED also announced that the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has opened two Title VI investigations into school districts that allegedly require personnel to consider race when making disciplinary decisions.
�https://www.ed.gov/media/document/dear-colleague-letter-guidance-pupil-discipline-and-compliance-title-vi-august-18-2026-114385.pdf
🔗https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-education-directs-schools-stop-racial-balancing-student-discipline-policies-investigates-two-school-districts
🔗https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/07/23/2026-14892/rescinding-guidelines-for-eliminating-discrimination-and-denial-of-services-on-the-basis-of-race

COPAA reminds members and colleagues that Dear Colleague Letters are neither dispositive nor binding. In addition, Section 618(d) of the IDEA and its implementing regulations (34 C.F.R. §§ 300.646–300.647) continues to mandate that states annually collect and analyze data to determine whether significant disproportionality based on race or ethnicity exists in the state and in its local educational agencies (LEAs).
🔗https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-108publ446/html/PLAW-108publ446.htm

🔗https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/subtitle-B/chapter-III/part-300/subpart-F/subject-group-ECFR4f9a33f19162f53/section-300.646

ALT - White background with COPAA logo with text that reads Weekly News

Join the COPAA Parent Committee Meeting with Missy A. and Theresa S., TOMORROW AT 6PM/ET where the committee will discus...
08/19/2026

Join the COPAA Parent Committee Meeting with Missy A. and Theresa S., TOMORROW AT 6PM/ET where the committee will discuss ADR: What to Expect, How to Prepare, and How It Differs from Mediation and Due Process.

Parents will also have the opportunity to learn about upcoming events and resources, review the benefits available to COPAA parent members, and more.

Please note that Committee Meetings are ONLY open to members. If you're interested in becoming a member, please direct message COPAA to request a membership. Scholarships are available for those who qualify. DM for more details on the scholarship or visit our website at https://www.copaa.org/page/joinus

For more information or registration, visit: https://learn.copaa.org/.../parent-meetings-2026-free-for...



ALT - A promotional flyer for the Parent Committee Meeting featuring Missy A. and Theresa S. for a discussion on ADR: What to Expect, How to Prepare, and How It Differs from Mediation and Due Process.

Calling All Advocates!We’re excited to announce that Advocate Late Nite is back this FALL!Join us every Wednesday, Septe...
08/18/2026

Calling All Advocates!

We’re excited to announce that Advocate Late Nite is back this FALL!

Join us every Wednesday, September 9th, and Sunday, September 13th, at 9 PM ET for engaging discussions led by David and Cynthia. With weekly topics that are sure to inspire!

🔗 Find the link in the Learning Center. - https://learn.copaa.org/p/advocatelatenite2026

Tag a friend below, and stay tuned for more details coming soon!



ALT - A picture of a blue background with the text "Advocate Late Night" and the COPAA logo

Title: Culturally Responsive Advocacy: Serving Immigrant Families and English Learner StudentsThis learning path equips ...
08/17/2026

Title: Culturally Responsive Advocacy: Serving Immigrant Families and English Learner Students

This learning path equips advocates and allied professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively support English Learners (ELs) and immigrant families within the special education system. Through two focused webinars, participants will explore the unique challenges EL students face and gain practical strategies for identifying and addressing their educational needs.

Webinar: Working with Immigrant Families: Cultural, Legal, and Ethical Considerations, Amber Banks and Shelsy Delgado. A PDF of the associated slide deck and white paper is included.

Webinar: The challenges of understanding what English Language Learners need, Luisa Hernandez Medellin. A PDF of the associated slide deck and white paper is included.

Sponsored by Vanaman German LLP

Registration: https://learn.copaa.org/p/englishlearners

ALT - Icon of a signpost with two green directional arrows pointing in opposite directions on a blue post, representing choices or multiple learning paths. Text reads Learning Path.

200 days to go until the biggest special education advocacy and law conference you’ll ever attend! We’ve submitted requ...
08/17/2026

200 days to go until the biggest special education advocacy and law conference you’ll ever attend!

We’ve submitted requests for proposals, and they’re currently under review. Exciting updates are on the way!

Next up, we’re thrilled about the SRI - Student Rights Initiative (SRI):
Advocacy en Español: ¡Manos a la Obra! Del conocimiento a la práctica.

Registration opens in October, so mark your calendars! 📅

Tag a friend below that you think should join you, and don’t forget to make your reservations soon at the Town and Country Resort,
500 Hotel Cir N,
San Diego, CA 92108.
🔗 https://www.copaa.org/page/2027-conference-register

Let’s make a difference together!



ALT - A picture of the Town and Country Resort, San Diego, CA.

08/15/2026

El regreso a clases puede traer nuevas rutinas, dificultades de comunicación, retrasos en los servicios y otros desafíos. En esta sesión conversaremos sobre:

✨ Regreso a clases: retos comunes e ideas para responder de manera efectiva

Compartiremos experiencias e ideas prácticas para identificar estos retos, documentar lo que está ocurriendo y comunicarnos de manera efectiva con la escuela.

📅 Martes 18 de agosto
⏰ 3:30 p. m., hora del Este
💻 Por Zoom y en español

🔗 Información y registro:
https://learn.copaa.org/products/hablemos-de-educacion-especial-espanol -product_tab_overview

¡Les esperamos para aprender, compartir y apoyarnos en comunidad!

Este programa ofrece información educativa general y no constituye asesoría legal.

"Understanding and Protecting Your Disability Rights Under Olmstead, the ADA, and Section 504."Wednesday, August 19th, f...
08/14/2026

"Understanding and Protecting Your Disability Rights Under Olmstead, the ADA, and Section 504."
Wednesday, August 19th, from 4 PM - 5:15 PM ET for a webinar
Register for the webinar at this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xHzUA2CBQAOLx8vh7H7c6Q #/registration

*This webinar is presented by the American Association of People with Disabilities , in partnership with The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law , the for Public Representation, and the Washington University Hirsh Health Law and Policy Program.

ASL and CART will be provided. Please contact [email protected] to request any other accommodations.

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Towson, MD
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