Bright Path Advocacy

02/24/2026

Here's the full report. It's frightening to think but it's likely, as the report states, this is an under reported issue given SSD's unwillingness to fully cooperate. Is your child being restrained or secluded?

02/23/2026

Those of us working in this space, saw this coming. Now, what does change look like and how long will it take?

Federal officials are calling for sweeping reforms at the Special School District of St. Louis County.

02/22/2026

❤️

Se alla dina favoriter bland videor och musik, ladda upp originalinnehåll och dela allt med vänner, familj och hela världen på YouTube.

02/22/2026

This is a must! Excited to learn from these women.

Changing the Law: Missouri's Journey to Reform Seclusion and Restraint in Schools
Presenter: Lara Wakefield & Julia Chaney-Faughn, Esq.

Brief Session Description:
This presentation traces Missouri's legislative journey to reform its seclusion and restraint laws in schools, led by volunteers from the Missouri Disability Empowerment Foundation. Presenters review the catalyst for change, outline the step-by-step process of drafting and passing the legislation, and highlight the critical role of including a public-facing data reporting requirement. Using three years of statewide data (2022 - 2025), the session presents on the importance of analyzing trends, reporting accuracy, and outcomes. Lessons learned, next steps, and an open Q&A with the audience are also included.

For additional information and to register now, please visit our website. https://www.copaa.org/page/2026-conference-register



ALT - Promotional graphic for the COPAA 28th Annual Conference. Presentation title and featuring headshots of Presenter(s) and their names. Event details include Crystal Gateway Marriott, VA, March 3–8, 2026, with COPAA branding and a U.S. Capitol illustration in the background.

02/13/2026

We have been screaming this for years!

Yup.

Link: https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/01/americas-reading-crisis-that-no-one-wants-to-talk-about/

02/13/2026

02/12/2026

This was a common theme last year. I haven't encountered it as much this year. What about you guys?

A PARA IS NOT AN ENVIRONMENT!

Restrictiveness is about where a student learns and who they learn with. NOT who supports them.

LRE and paraprofessional support are two separate discussions that often get confused with each other. We're here to say a para does not make an inclusive environment more restrictive!!!!

Learn more about these two topics in the newest episode of The Inclusion Podcast here: https://www.inclusiveschooling.com/a-para-is-not-an-environment/

02/06/2026

Building a strong program is hard.
Like… really hard.

When you put the social and emotional well-being of children first, everything slows down.

You don’t rush academics.
You pause for regulation.
You address anxiety, burnout, confidence, safety, trust—now, even when it costs you visible “progress.”

And then—when it is time for academics—you don’t bulldoze forward to “catch up.”

You meet the child where they are.
At their pace.
In a way that protects the social-emotional gains you worked so hard to build.

So you’re constantly holding two truths at once:
• If we ignore SEL, academics crumble.
• If we rush academics, SEL erodes.

And trying to do both well—without losing momentum in either direction—is exhausting.

It’s slower.
It’s messier.
It’s deeply relational work.

But it’s also how children actually learn, heal, and grow.

Strong programs aren’t built by moving fast.
They’re built by moving intentionally, even when it’s hard.

And wow… it is hard.
But it’s worth it. 🌱

02/05/2026

We will take it.

After months of fiscal uncertainty, a federal education budget for 2026 has officially been signed into law.

In a move that many advocates are calling a win for stability, the final $79 billion package rejects billions in proposed cuts to the Department of Education.

For local school districts, this means that funding for critical programs like Title I for low-income students and IDEA for special education will remain virtually level, providing a much-needed sigh of relief for administrators currently planning for the next school year.

🔗 Read more: https://edw.link/j8q

01/30/2026

This is promising data for struggling readers. It's never to late! If you're not seeing improvement with the schools chosen program it might be time for a change.

/PRNewswire/ -- NOW! Programs®, led by Dr. Tim Conway, Clinical Director of The Morris Center and CEO of NOW! Programs®, today released school-reported...

01/30/2026

If we work together, you know how important the parental concern section is. FACES explains it well here.