COPAA State & Local Change Makers Academy
COPAA is proud to conduct the State & Local Change Makers Academy to help grow the field of effective and knowledgeable systems change agents. A certificate of completion is provided to students who pass the course requirements.
The class is only available to COPAA members. If you are not a COPAA member, please click here to learn more about becoming a member.
State & Local Change Makers Academy is a 100% online eight-session course for parents and advocates beginning their journey or looking to deepen their capacity to influence policy and systems change at the state and local level. Registration is now closed for the September class.
Topics Covered
Advancing Civil Rights for Students with Disabilities, COPAA’s Current Role and Policy Priorities; People Power: Organizing for Change at the State & Local Level; Making Change at the State Level; Creating Impact at the Local Level; Identifying Challenges and Opportunities in Self-Advocacy for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Families and Students with Disabilities; How to Tell a Compelling Story that Makes Your Case; Mastering Media for Maximum Impact; Making Change in Law and Policy.
Class Format and Design
The class includes recorded weekly presentations, a mandatory once-weekly live class, interactive activities during the live class, two written assignments, one performative assignment, and several discussion forum activities. Every student is assigned a Teaching Assistant (TA) who provides personalized feedback on assignments and is available to answer clarifying questions in between class sessions. Classes are recorded and course materials are provided in advance (PDFs of the PPT used in a recording or live session, handouts, videos, etc.) to support student understanding and engagement. Please expect 4-5 hours of work a week (including class time). If that doesn't work with your current schedule, please check the Learning Center for different training opportunities (including on-demand learning paths).
All COPAA courses are designed utilizing universal design principles, as we have a deep commitment to equity and student success. If you would like to discuss ADA accommodations before registering for a class or ask any general questions, please click here.
Audience
We recommend taking State & Local Change Makers Academy if you have fewer than three years of experience advocating for policy change at the state and local level. No experience is required prior to registering for State & Local Change Makers Academy. The course only covers policy and systems change; no individual-student advocacy strategies will be provided. Please consider BSEAT or SEAT 2.0 if you would like to focus on individual special education advocacy.
Scholarships: A limited number of qualified individuals whose family income is at or below 2 times the federal poverty level or who have extenuating circumstances may apply for a COPAA training registration fee discount. State & Local Change Makers Academy scholarships cover 80% of the course costs. After you register for the class (select pay by check when you get to the payment portion of the registration), immediately send your scholarship request with proof that you meet the guidelines (i.e. the first two pages of your federal tax return) to learningcenter@copaa.org. Requests are considered on a first come first serve basis. After receiving your scholarship documents, a COPAA Representative will contact you to confirm eligibility and availability of the scholarships. Click here for current the Federal Guidelines. Only students who are registered for the course are considered for a scholarship.
Calendar: State & Local Change Makers Academy is held once a year starting in August. The class will be held on Fridays at 10 a.m. PDT / 1 p.m. EDT and will begin on Friday, August 14, 2026 and conclude on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026.
Registration, Class Dates, & Costs
State & Local Change Makers Academy is held once a year starting in August. Only COPAA members can register for the course. The cost of the class is $295. Register before June 30, 2026 and you will receive a discounted registration fee of $250.
Cancellation Policy
Students receive a full refund if they are not accepted into the class. If accepted but the student cancels before the course registration deadline, a full refund will be provided minus a $25 administration fee. No refunds will be provided after August 1, 2026. Please allow up to 2-3 weeks for refunds to be issued.
Registration Policy
Per COPAA bylaws, any individual who currently receives more than 50% of their income from a state or local education agency, or, in the case of an attorney, has represented such an agency or school district within the past five years, shall not be permitted to register or attend a COPAA educational event unless a formal exception is granted. Click here for more information regarding membership, guest membership, and the full eligibility policy.
