Professional Development Courses
Live and on Demand Professional Development for BCBAs
Join us the first Friday* of every month to explore cutting edge topics specifically designed for BCBAs. Participants can join live via Zoom or view the recording after the session.
Asynchronous and Synchronous Options | Rolling Admission; Participants can earn up to (14) CEs
How to Provide Effective Support to English Learners in the School Library
This professional development course, specifically created for School Librarians, focuses on the English language/multilingual learner experience, EL/ML law, teaching all learners, connecting with families and EL/ML teachers and ways to make our space and resources more welcoming to EL/ML students.
Live via Zoom on Fridays, August 1st and August 22nd from 9:00am – 12:00pm with an additional (9) asynchronous hours online
Data-Based Decision Making and MTSS
Unlock the power of data to enhance student outcomes with our in-depth workshop on Data-Based Decision Making and Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS). This workshop is tailored for educators, school leaders, and support staff who are committed to leveraging data to drive instructional practices and support all students effectively.
Live and Recorded via Zoom | Tuesdays, August 5th, August 12th & August 19th, 9:30am – 11:30am and Thursday, August 14th, 9:30am – 11:30am
Effective Communication for Stronger Family Engagement in Special Education
In this session, we will explore how strong family-school communication can make a big difference in Special Education. We’ll look at how better family engagement can lead to improved student success, a more positive school environment, and a smoother, more collaborative special education process.
Live via Zoom | Wednesday, August 13 2025; 10am – 12pm
Supporting Bilingual Students in the Early Childhood Classroom
Our classrooms in many cities have become very diverse, and every year teachers are interacting with bilingual/bicultural students from many parts of the world. Teachers at every grade level, but especially, in the Early Childhood years (pre-school, Headstart), need to be prepared to be able to recognize the specific language needs of this population and when it would be appropriate to make a referral for a speech-language or special education evaluation.
Virtual via Zoom | Monday, August 18; 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Igniting Joy: A Path to Innovative Learning
Step into a world where education is ignited with passion and innovation. ‘Igniting Joy in the Classroom: A Path to Innovative Learning’ is a transformative course designed to empower educators to reignite their passion for educating while embracing innovative strategies that spark creativity, engagement, and growth in the classroom.
Live in Person at ACCEPT | August 18 – August 21, 2025; 9am – 12pm with additional time working in small groups
Maximizing Mentorships: Best Practices in Mentoring New Teachers
Based on the popular work of master teacher mentors, Carol Pelletier (Mentoring in Action) and Lois Zachary (The Mentor’s Guide) and the MA DESE Mentoring Guidelines, this workshop is designed to provide practical and reflective principles and activities that help the teacher mentor maximize trust, collegiality, communication, reflection and personal growth with their mentee.
Live in Person at ACCEPT or Join Virtually | Monday, August 25, 2025; 9:00am – 12:00pm
Stress Less with the Out-of-District (OOD) Process
Join us for a half-day workshop exploring the ins and outs of Out-of-District (OOD) placements in Special Education. We’ll delve into the pros and cons, debunk common myths, and share both success stories and cautionary tales. Topics include reviewing the process, building caregiver relationships, finding the best placement, supporting students returning to the district, and navigating accountability.
Live via Zoom | Friday, October 24, 2025; 12:00pm – 3:00pm
Conflict and De-escalation Training
This interactive session is designed to help staff and leaders navigate conflict and challenging conversations through a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) lens. Participants will explore how unconscious bias, power dynamics, and social identity shape workplace conflict, and learn inclusive strategies for de-escalation and dialogue.
Live via Zoom; Recording will also be made available | Tuesday, November 4, 2025; 11:00am – 12:00pm
Inclusion Academy: Building Inclusive Classrooms Through Co-Teaching and UDL
This course satisfies 15 Professional Development Points (PDPs) toward educator recertification in Massachusetts.
This six-session asynchronous series equips educators with practical strategies to create inclusive classrooms by leveraging co-teaching models and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles. Participants will explore foundational concepts of inclusion, collaborative planning and instruction, flexible lesson design, and the application of accommodations and modifications to support diverse learners. Each session includes reflection, case studies, and opportunities to apply learning directly to practice.
Asynchronous | 10/27 – 12/8/25
Little Books, Powerful Instruction: The When, Why, and How of Using Decodable Texts
In this workshop, presenters will lead participants through the key research around decodable texts and their power for the earliest readers—including typically developing students as well as those with difficulty learning to read. Participants will learn about how decodable texts fit with high-impact instructional practices, including the time in children’s reading development when decodable texts are most beneficial (and when they’re not!).
Live via Zoom | November 4, 2025; 8:00am – 11:00am
The Truth About “Reading Levels”: Implications for Assessment and Instruction
In this session, teachers will understand the limitations of leaning heavily on reading levels on the A to Z gradient, while acknowledging the ways this information has been helpful in the past. Teachers will gain knowledge of other kinds of useful assessments and leveling systems, and considerations when analyzing texts. They’ll also hear about when to use different texts for different purposes—including instruction, practice, home-school connections, and engagement—and why it’s important for all students to access grade level texts.
Live via Zoom | November 4, 2025; 11:30am – 2:30pm
Legal Update for Administrators
Massachusetts requirements around time out procedures, the implications of the Mahmoud v. Taylor ruling and issues pertaining to ICE in the school and communities. Attorney Joyce will review the most recent updates and change in legal interpretation so that special education directors, team chairs and staff with the expertise to ensure compliance with state and federal law.
Live via Zoom | Friday, October 17, 2025, 8:30am – 11:30am
Note: Accommodations for Persons with Disabilities: We want to provide the best learning experience for everyone in compliance of the ADA, should you require any accommodations to fully participate in this training please contact [email protected].
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