Summer 2026 FCSN PD Series
Join us this summer for an engaging series of practical, two-hour professional learning sessions designed to strengthen inclusive practices and improve outcomes for students with disabilities.
Federation for Children with Special Needs Presents
Summer 2026 Special Education
Professional Development Series
Join us this summer for an engaging series of practical, two-hour professional learning sessions designed to strengthen inclusive practices and improve outcomes for students with disabilities.
Series Topics
- Reimagining the IEP Process
- Leading High-Quality IEP Systems
- Specially Designed Instruction (SDI)
- The Science of Reading
Tuesdays 3:00-5:00 pm
5 Sessions
Thursdays 4:00-6:00 pm
5 Sessions
Saturdays 9:00-11:00am
6 Sessions
What You’ll Get:
- Evidence-based strategies
- Ready-to-use tools
- Real-world applications
- BONUS: 1 Year Subscription for 10-hour PDP Online, self-paced course that you can complete at your own pace
Registration
Register for your preferred session topic and time.
Federation for Children with Special Needs
Training Room at:
Schrafft’s City Center
529 Main St #1M3, Boston, MA 02129
Tuesdays 3:00-5:00 pm
5 Sessions
Thursdays 4:00-6:00 pm
5 Sessions
Saturdays 9:00-11:00am
6 Sessions
Jul 28: Reimagining the IEP Process
Jul 30: Reimagining the IEP Process
Aug 1: Reimagining the IEP Process
Aug 4: Leading High-Quality IEP Systems
Aug 6: Leading High-Quality IEP Systems
Aug 8: Leading High-Quality IEP Systems
Aug 11: Specially Designed Instruction
Aug 13: Specially Designed Instruction
Aug 15: Specially Designed Instruction
Aug 18: The Science of Reading
Aug 20: The Science of Reading
Aug 22: The Science of Reading
Aug 25: Specially Designed Instruction
Aug 27: Specially Designed Instruction
Aug 29: Specially Designed Instruction
Topics & Descriptions
Reimagining the IEP Process
“Helping educators move beyond compliance to confident collaboration in the IEP process.”
The IEP should be more than a compliance document—it should be a practical tool that drives meaningful instruction and student success. In this engaging two-hour professional learning session, educators will shift their perspective from viewing the IEP as paperwork to using it as a roadmap for high-quality, inclusive teaching.
Participants will learn how to quickly identify the information that matters most, connect student needs to everyday classroom practices, understand their role in implementation, and build stronger collaboration with colleagues and families. Leave with practical strategies that make IEPs easier to understand, easier to implement, and more impactful for students—while saving time and increasing confidence in your daily practice.
Whether you’re new to special education or an experienced educator, you’ll leave with actionable tools you can use the very next day.
You’ll walk away with:
- Free Access to 10 Self-paced PDP Credits to complete at your convenience
- A faster, more practical way to write, read, and understand an IEP
- Clear strategies for implementing accommodations and supports with confidence
- A better understanding of your role in student success
- Tools to strengthen collaboration with special educators and families
- Ready-to-use practices that improve outcomes for all learners
Spend less time deciphering paperwork—and more time making an impact where it matters most: with students.
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CURRICULUM DESIGN
IEP course for all teachers, paras and Related Service Providers -
LEARNING STYLE
In Person Training with 10 Hours of Self-paced, Asynchronous PDP Credits -
TRAINING DATES
Sept 5
BONUS: Includes 1 License for 1 Year Access to our FOUNDATIONS OF THE MA IEP Course – 10 Hours of PDP, Self-paced, 100% Online.
Leading High-Quality IEP Systems
“From paperwork to partnership: empowering leaders to transform the IEP process into meaningful practice.”
Lead with purpose. Build systems that transform IEPs from compliance documents into tools for student success.
School leaders play a critical role in shaping the quality of IEP implementation. Yet many find themselves balancing compliance requirements with the need to support effective instruction, meaningful collaboration, and positive family partnerships. This interactive two-hour professional learning session provides practical strategies to lead all three with confidence.
Discover how to build systems that improve the quality of IEP meetings, strengthen staff collaboration, increase educator confidence, and ensure IEPs are implemented as intended—not simply completed. Learn how to create a culture where every team member understands their role, families are authentic partners, and the IEP becomes a roadmap for equitable, student-centered decision making.
You’ll walk away with:
- Free Access to 10 Self-paced PDP Credits to complete at your convenience
- Strategies to move your school beyond compliance to high-quality IEP implementation
- Practical tools to strengthen collaboration among educators, related service providers, and families
- Leadership practices that improve the efficiency and effectiveness of IEP meetings
- A framework for increasing consistency, accountability, and staff confidence across your school
- Actionable ideas you can implement immediately to improve student outcomes and support inclusive practices
Spend less time managing paperwork—and more time leading systems that empower educators, engage families, and improve outcomes for every student.
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CURRICULUM DESIGN
IEP course for District & School Leaders -
LEARNING STYLE
In Person Training with 10 Hours of Self-paced, Asynchronous PDP Credits -
TRAINING DATES
Aug 4, Aug 6, Aug 8
BONUS: Includes 1 License for 1 Year Access to our IEP TRAINING FOR LEADERSHIP Course – 10 Hours of PDP, Self-paced, 100% Online.
Specially Designed Instruction
“Clearer SDI. Stronger IEPs. Better student outcomes.”
Move beyond knowing what SDI is—learn how to deliver it.
Every educator wants to provide meaningful support for students with disabilities, but translating evaluation data, IEP goals, and student needs into effective daily instruction can be challenging. This interactive two-hour professional learning session gives educators a practical toolbox of evidence-based strategies they can use immediately to increase student engagement, independence, and achievement.
Learn how to connect identified skill deficits to classroom impact, select the right instructional strategies, and deliver specially designed instruction that is intentional, measurable, and individualized—not just accommodations or extra help. Walk away with ready-to-use tools that make planning easier and instruction more effective.
You’ll walk away with:
- Free Access to 10 Self-paced PDP Credits to complete at your convenience
- A clear understanding of what Specially Designed Instruction is—and what it is not
- Practical, evidence-based instructional strategies that can be implemented immediately
- A framework for matching student needs to effective SDI across academic, behavioral, executive functioning, communication, and social-emotional domains
- Tools to connect evaluation data and IEP goals to meaningful classroom instruction
- Strategies that increase student independence while improving access to grade-level learning
- A practical SDI toolbox you’ll use throughout the school year
Stop guessing what works. Start building an instructional toolbox that helps every student access learning, make meaningful progress, and reach their full potential.
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CURRICULUM DESIGN
SDI course for all teachers, paras and Related Service Providers -
LEARNING STYLE
In Person Training with 10 Hours of Self-paced, Asynchronous PDP Credits -
TRAINING DATES
Aug 11, Aug 13, Aug 15,
Aug 25, Aug 27, Aug 29
BONUS: Includes 1 License for 1 Year Access to our SPECIALLY DESIGNED INSTRUCTION FOR THE CLASSROOM Course – 10 Hours of PDP, Self-paced, 100% Online.
The Science of Reading
“The missing link in literacy growth? Understanding how the brain processes reading.”
Reading and the Brain: An Introduction to the Science of Reading
Transform the way you think about reading—and the way you teach it.
Why do some students learn to read with ease while others struggle despite their best efforts? The answer begins with understanding how the brain learns to read. This engaging two-hour introductory professional learning session explores the foundational research behind the Science of Reading and what it means for effective classroom instruction.
Designed for educators of all experience levels, this session breaks down the “why” behind evidence-based reading practices in a practical, easy-to-understand way. You’ll discover how skilled reading develops, why some students experience reading difficulties, and how intentional instruction can dramatically improve literacy outcomes for all learners.
You’ll walk away with:
- Free Access to 10 Self-paced PDP Credits to complete at your convenience
- A clear understanding of the Science of Reading and the research that supports it
- An overview of how the brain develops skilled reading
- The essential components of effective reading instruction and why each matters
- Insights into why some students struggle with reading and how to recognize early signs
- Practical, evidence-based strategies you can begin using immediately in your classroom
- Greater confidence in making instructional decisions that improve reading outcomes for all students
When educators understand how the brain learns to read, they make more informed instructional decisions, identify struggling readers earlier, and create learning experiences that help every student become a successful reader. Join us and discover how small shifts in practice can lead to life-changing results for students.
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CURRICULUM DESIGN
Reading course for all teachers, paras and Related Service Providers -
LEARNING STYLE
In Person Training with 10 Hours of Self-paced, Asynchronous PDP Credits -
TRAINING DATES
Aug 18, Aug 20, Aug 22
BONUS: Includes 1 License for 1 Year Access to our Unlocking Reading 101: Introduction to The Science of Reading & The Brain Course – 10 Hours of PDP, Self-paced, 100% Online.
We’re Proud to Work with the Best!
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