Technical Assistance and Professional Development

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:

• OEC Professional Development Calendar
• Asynchronous Courses in NCEES
• NC SIP Courses such as Reading Research to Classroom Practice and Foundations of Math are offered across the state throughout the year by certified instructors. You can access all offering on the NCSIP Calendar of Events.

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.

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!

More Information to Come!

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.

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This section is under construction.

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.

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. Please see the Weekly EC Administrator Updates for more information.

For over 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!