CALL FOR PROPOSALS: Academy of Law and Leadership

The Leading Special Education Law Conference: Turning Legal and Regulatory Guidance into Local School District Practices

Call for Proposals

Austin, Texas | April 20-22, 2027

The Council of Administrators of Special Education (CASE) invites you to submit a proposal for a concurrent session at the 2027 CASE Academy of Law and Leadership, a premier event focused on strengthening legal literacy and leadership in special education.

This unique professional learning experience brings together school district legal counsel and practitioners with experience navigating complex legal situations. Sessions are designed to offer real-world guidance, promote collaborative problem-solving, and empower attendees to make informed, legally sound decisions that support students with disabilities.
 
Session types may include:
  • Co-presented sessions featuring a school district attorney and an education leader sharing aligned legal and practical perspectives
  • Attorney-led sessions focused on recent legal developments or procedural guidance
  • Practitioner-led sessions highlighting lessons learned, effective district responses, or systems-level strategies in legal contexts
Academy Highlights:
  • Deep dives into IDEA, Section 504, due process hearings, state complaints, and notable court decisions
  • A focus on preventive and restorative practices that support compliance while strengthening relationships
  • Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credit available for attorneys who present and attend (must be registered by January 15th to ensure we have the CLE set for your state).
Whether you bring legal expertise or on-the-ground experience, we invite you to join us in shaping the legal literacy and leadership capacity of today’s special education professionals.
 
Submit your proposal and lead the conversation!  
 
Call for Proposal - Application coming soon
 

Session Strands

  • Behavior and Discipline
  • Compliance Solution with a School District Partner
  • Dispute Resolution
  • FAPE (Free Appropriate Public Education)
  • Hot Topics
  • Human Resources
  • Legal Compliance
  • Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act

Selection Criteria for Proposals

Presentation Guidelines
We encourage collaborative presentations. Priority will be given to sessions that feature a practicing school district special education administrator or leader, co-presenting with school district legal counsel. Proposals must align with one or more conference strands and include three clearly defined learner objectives that correspond with the session description. Each concurrent session is 60 minutes, and should: 
  • Offer an innovative solution to a current challenge in special education,
  • Be action-oriented and highly relevant,
  • Present meaningful content that contributes to the advancement of the field of special education leadership.
Final selection will take into account the overall quality of the proposal, as well as the variety and balance of topics presented throughout the conference.
 

Please keep in mind

  • All accepted presenters and co-presenters must register for the conference and pay the early bird registration rate before December 31, 2026. Failure to register will result in the cancellation of your session.
  • Presenters are responsible for bringing laptops and adaptors to connect to LCD projectors.
  • Accepted proposals must have their final presentation materials loaded in the conference portal by January 1, 2026. 

Important Dates

Call for Proposals Due Date           August 16, 2026
Presenters Notified   November 23, 2026
Deadline to Accept/Decline Offer to Present   December 4, 2026
Last Day for Presenters to Register   December 31, 2026
Session Materials/Handouts Must Be Loaded in the Conference Portal   January 1, 2027

 

 

 

If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected].