About Us

The Council of Administrators of Special Education (CASE) is an international nonprofit professional organization that provides leadership, advocacy, and professional learning to more than 6,000 special education leaders in all 50 states, Canada, and various nations around the world. 
 
A division of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), CASE supports leaders at every stage of their careers—administrators, unit directors, supervisors, coordinators, and aspiring administrators—through high-quality professional learning, trusted resources, and a powerful national network.
 
CASE is committed to strengthening leadership capacity in special education by providing timely legal guidance, evidence-based practices, and opportunities for collaboration. Through conferences, academies, webinars, leadership institutes, publications, and advocacy efforts, CASE equips leaders with the knowledge, skills, and community needed to navigate complex systems and lead with confidence.
 

Mission and Core Values 

The mission of CASE is to advance the field of special education through professional learning, policy, and advocacy. 

  • VISIONARY LEADERSHIP: CASE is committed to innovative, forward-thinking and is dedicated to excellence. 
  • INCLUSIONARY PRACTICES: CASE is committed to the highest standards of access, equity, belonging, and inclusion. 
  • ENGAGEMENT: CASE is committed to intentional partnerships with our colleagues in preK-12 education, university, corporate, non-profit, and public communities. 
  • INTEGRITY: CASE is committed to fostering the values of honesty, fairness, and professional and scholarly ethics.
 

Our History

CASE was constituted as the first division of CEC in 1952. CASE had a part-time Executive Director (ED) from 1980 to 1990, when the position of ED became full-time. CASE has had five EDs: Dr. Harrie Selznick, Dr. David Green, Dr. Jo Thomason, Dr. Luann Purcell, and Phyllis Wolfram. The first stand-alone office was established on July 1, 2002, in cooperation with Fort Valley State University, Fort Valley, GA. In October 2008, the CASE office moved to an office building in Warner Robins, GA, and later moved to Springfield, MO, in 2020. Under Phyllis Wolfram’s leadership, CASE expanded staff to include an associate executive director, director of professional learning, and senior manager of digital content and member operations in 2024. 

In 2006, the organization developed CASE’s “Design for the Future,” which featured 7 leading principles. In 2022, CASE adopted an updated strategic plan and subsequent Key Performance Indicators (KPI) to serve as guideposts for the organization. The strategic plan is reviewed and revised every two-four years. 

Membership - State Units - Volunteer Leadership 

As a division of the Council for Exceptional Children, individuals join CEC first and then add membership in the Council of Administrators of Special Education (CASE). CASE currently has active State Units in 43 states.
 
CASE is governed by an Executive Committee (EC), which includes the President-Elect, President, Past President, Treasurer, Secretary, and two Members-at-Large. In addition, the President appoints committee chairs who serve on the EC. The Board of Directors (BOD), composed of State Unit leaders, meets twice annually—once in person at the CASE Conference and once virtually in the spring.
 
Members have opportunities to develop leadership skills and contribute to the organization by serving on CASE committees, including: Policy & Legislative, Membership, Finance, Unit Development, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Research, Professional Development, and Product Review.
 

Professional Learning

The CASE Conference, held annually at various locations, is the premier learning and networking event for special education leaders, drawing approximately 1,500 attendees. The event includes concurrent sessions, dynamic keynotes, networking socials, and a vibrant exhibit hall showcasing the latest special education solutions.
 
Launched in April 2024, the CASE Academy of Law & Leadership is an annual legal conference where teams of district attorneys and local leaders present together on critical legal topics. Following its debut in Minneapolis, it was hosted in St. Louis in 2025 and Atlanta in 2026. CASE looks forward to future Academy's in Austin and Anaheim. 
To reach members globally, CASE began offering virtual events in 2020, including: 
  • Legal Suite featuring Julie Weatherly, Esq.
  • Leadership Suite focused on instructional leadership, staff wellness, programming for low incidence disabilities, and support for new special education directors. The leadership suite continues to offer a wide variety of opportunities. 
  • Free member offerings: 60 Minutes with Myrna, Wellness series, New Directors’ Network, and topical webinars
In 2021, CASE established the Administrator of Special Education Professional Leadership Standards. Building on this, CASE launched the Special Education Leadership Institute (SELI) in 2024—a hybrid program aligned to the standards, where graduates earn a micro-credential. Cohort 1 concluded in November 2025, and Cohort 2 began in January 2026. Cohort 3 applications will open in the summer of 2026.  
 

Policy and Advocacy

CASE’s part-time Policy and Legislative Consultant, Myrna Mandlawitz, J.D., has worked with the organization since 2008. Myrna is located in Washington D.C. and routinely visits with elected officials/staff, coalitions,and various organizations on behalf of CASE. Myrna also hosts a monthly webinar, “60 Minutes with Myrna,” for CASE members, sharing federal updates and policy issues.
 
CASE maintains current policy/position statements relative to the field. CASE also hosts an active Advocacy Action Center included on the website. Since January of 2025 a record 50,000 emails have been sent to members of Congress through the CASE Action Center.
 
CASE is a member of several coalitions and is committed to being the collective voice of special education administrators. In 2024, CASE and NASDSE developed the IDEA Implementation Coalition, which is comprised of 22 professional organizations whose members are tasked with the implementation of the IDEA.
 

Publications and Member Resources

The CASE Store, located in the Resources tab on this website, hosts various publications and resources. Topical CASE Essentials, 504 Process Manual, tri-fold resources, and Great Instruction/Great Achievement are some examples. 
CASE also publishes the Journal of Special Education Leadership quarterly. This professional research journal offers scholarly articles to help drive the field of special education leadership forward.
 
In 2023, CASE launched an online networking platform called the CASE CommUnity. This virtual hub allows members to connect in a secure environment, share resources, and create networking groups. Additional member resources are housed on the Members Only section of the CASE website.