Technical Assistance and Professional Development

The Office of Exceptional Children offers information and activities of evidence-based practices through trainings, resources, and technical assistance to support improved outcomes for students with disabilities, and also offers information to assist schools with recruitment and retention of qualified staff.

For current offerings from the OEC check the EC Calendar of Events

Professional Development

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The Office of Exceptional Children, including the North Carolina State Improvement Project, offers a variety of training opportunities and courses on implementing evidence based practices for students with disabilities. These offerings can be found across three different locations:

Don't see the resource you are looking for regarding support for students with disabilities at the district, school, or classroom level? Use our Professional Learning, Technical Assistance, and/or Coaching Request Form to submit your request.

Please note that only district or school level leadership should submit a professional learning request. If the EC Administrator does not submit the request, they will be notified and included in all follow-up conversations.

EC Annual Conference

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The Exceptional Children Division of the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, through its strategic plan, is committed to increasing the performance of students with disabilities, thereby enhancing their ability to graduate and achieve productive post-secondary outcomes. It is critical that all who have a stake in impacting the lives of our students – parents/families, special education teachers, related service personnel, psychologists, regular education teachers, administrators – collaborate to help them thrive each day and into the future.

The Exceptional Children Division is pleased to invite colleagues from across the state to join us for the Annual Conference on Exceptional Children. This annual collegial event is an opportunity to share and learn about innovations and exciting practices to help exceptional children achieve.

Numerous enriching activities include:

  • An uplifting Plenary Session with inspiring keynote presentation;
  • 90+ informative Instructional Sessions covering the broad spectrum of exceptional children education;
  • Educators of Excellence reception honoring outstanding North Carolina special educators;
  • Poster Display of innovative programs and practices;
  • School-Based Enterprise Bazaar showcasing products created and marketed by North Carolina Public School students with disabilities;
  • Exhibitor/Vendor area that offers interactions with organizations and companies specializing in serving exceptional children.

Come be an integral part of this annual gathering in Greensboro of more than 3,000 professionals and parents, all working together to improve educational outcomes for all students!

Save the Date for the 73rd Conference of Exceptional Children November 13 - 15, 2024 at the Koury Convention Center

 

Conference Theme:  Charting the Course to Exceptional Outcomes

Save the Dates!- Annual OEC Conference on Exceptional Children
  • Wednesday, November 13, 2024
    • Pre-Conference Institutes
    • Recruitment Fair (pm)
  • Thursday, November 14, 2024
    • General Conference
    • Educator of Excellence (pm)
  • Friday, November 15, 2024
    • ½ Day General Conference
    • ½ Day Special Meetings
       
Participant Registration
Registration for the 73rd Conference on Exceptional Children closed on October 18th, 2024.

 

General Conference Strands, Sessions, and Schedule
  • Instructional Practices - Academic and Behavior
  • Early Childhood
  • Parent Involvement
  • Transition

To learn more about our general conference session for the 2024 Conference on Exceptional Children explore our 2024 Conference on Exceptional Children General Conference Sessions Spreadsheet. Additional, details about our 2024 Conference can be found in our 2024 Conference Schedule.

Conference App
Invitations to the conference app have gone out to all registered participants. Participants should check their email, including spam/junk folders, for emails from guidebot@guidebook.com. Watch these helpful videos on how to download the app and how to use the app.
 
Educator of Excellence (EOE) Nominations
The Office of Exceptional Children would like to pay special tribute to educators of exceptional children and to present the 2024 Educator of Excellence Award to each nominee at the 73rd Conference on Exceptional Children. The EOE memo contains nomination instructions and links.  All nominations must be submitted by Tuesday, October 1, 2024.
 
Vendor/Exhibitor Registration
Vender/Exhibitor Registration closed on October 18, 2024.  The exhibitor space is limited to 64 booths.  General merchandise booths (non-educational products) are limited to 5 booths. An email will be sent to prospective exhibitors confirming their acceptance or regrets.  

Recruitment & Retention

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2021 Summit Resources

EC Administrators Spring Institute

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The Office of Exceptional Children annually provides an opportunity for professional development, policy, and initiative updates to EC Administrators and their administrative staff through sessions at the Spring Institute. This professional development is designated to provide opportunities for EC administrators to improve, enhance, and support their delivery of special education and related services.

This page is under construction.

Summer Institutes

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The 2024 Office of Exceptional Children Summer Institutes is now open for registration. This year we are hosting two weeks of virtual institutes. Please reference the Summer Institutes Guide for information around the institutes offered, registration, payment, and much more!

Registration closed on June 25, 2024.

Annually, the Office of Exceptional Children schedules a series of Summer Institutes that hosts a wide variety of topics. This professional development is designed to provide opportunities for administrators, teachers and related services personnel seeking in-service training in the education of exceptional children. A list of summer institutes is provided, and registration may include a minimal fee for this professional development.

Federal Reporting Office Hours

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The Office of Exceptional Children will have staff available for Federal Reporting Office Hours to provide additional support to districts with Federal Reporting questions. Student level data cannot be shared in an open forum; therefore, only general reporting and data correction questions may be addressed during the office hours. Student level data questions must be submitted via a ZenDesk ticket. To ask questions about upcoming federal reporting, join the call using the links listed below.

August 14, 2024

October 2, 2024

December 2, 2024

February 5th, 2025

April 2, 2025

Federal Office Hours 2024 Resources and FAQs

Federal Reporting Office Hours FAQs

May 2024
April 2024
March 2024
February 2024

Federal Office Hours 2023 Resources and FAQs

Federal Reporting Office Hours FAQs

December 2023
November 2023
October 2023
September 2023
August 2023
July 2023
May 2023
April 2023
February 2023
January 2023

Federal Office Hours 2022 Resources and FAQs

Federal Reporting Office Hours FAQs

December 2022
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
August 2022
July 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
January 2022

Federal Office Hours 2021 Resources and FAQs

Federal Reporting Office Hours FAQs

December 2021
November 2021
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021

NC SIP

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For almost 25 years, the NC Office of Exceptional Children has been the recipient of a US Department of Education State Personnel Development Grant. The focus of of the North Carolina State Improvement Project (NC SIP) is to provide the teachers of our state with the knowledge and support to improve the outcomes of students with disabilities.

You can find more information about the grant along with professional development opportunities and resources on our new website: TIPS!

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