Special Education 101
Helping educators understand their role in supporting students with disabilities and developing high quality IEPs
This course is available free to Co-op members. Contact your school's special education director for a code to access the course free of charge.
This course will support educators in understanding their role in supporting students with disabilities and developing high quality IEPs.
Part 1 (IDEA and the IEP) is designed primarily for general education teachers, paraeducators, and new special education teachers as an introduction to the key components of IDEA, what makes a high quality IEP, and their responsibilities under the law. Teachers completing these modules will understand what is meant by a free and appropriate public education, what their Child Find obligations are, how eligibility is determined, their role in developing and implementing the IEP, and more.
Part 2 (Parent Participation and Family Collaboration) is designed for ALL teachers regardless of their level of experience, and takes a deep dive into a critical but often overlooked component of IEP development and implementation: the role of the family. Educators will learn how to build effective, collaborative relationships with families to ensure that the IEP is truly reflective of each student’s needs and drive success for students.
Part 3 (Writing High Quality IEPs and Determining Appropriate Accommodations) is designed to guide special education teachers in best practices in developing quality present levels of performance, writing standards-based, effective goals, and choosing appropriate accommodations.
This course includes a variety of resources that teachers can use to enhance their practice, as well as a self-assessment quiz.
This course is self-paced. Part 1 and Part 3 are made up of multiple modules and take approximately 60-90 minutes to complete. Part 2 has just one module and takes approximately 30-45 minutes to complete. The entire course will take between 2.5 - 3.5 hours to complete.
Your Instructor
Laura Lorenzen is a proven special education leader in Washington, DC who, as the parent of a child with special needs, is passionate about ensuring the success of every child.
Laura has spent nearly two decades leading innovative and quality programming for students with disabilities, from early childhood through high school. She began her career at a non-public school for students with language-based learning disabilities, ADHD, and autism, before taking the helm as Director of Student Support at a DC Public Charter School, building its reputation as a local and national leader in quality inclusive special education services. Under her leadership, the school was recognized in 2018 as one of only four nationwide “Centers of Excellence” by the National Center for Special Education in Charter Schools.
Laura has been actively involved in the Special Education Co-op for many years, having served for 2 years as member of its Advisory Board and as a consultant, providing professional development and coaching around Response to Intervention (RtI) practices. Laura joined the Co-op staff as a Program Quality Specialist in 2021.