Topics Related to Exceptional Children

April 9, 2026, 11:45am - 1pm

This virtual cohort will guide PSU teams and individuals through foundational understanding of the 3 Medicaid programs available to public schools and explore how to implement or improve Medicaid capacity collaboratively. Ample time is reserved for questions and discussion of best practices and organizational options. Each team will develop goals and an action plan for the coming school year. The cohort will meet each Thursday from 11:45am - 1pm from April 9th - May 7th. If you have any questions or need more information, please call Laurie Ray (919-636-1827).

April 2, 2026, 2:30pm - 3:30pm

This virtual session will review the Spring26 Medicaid in Education Cohort: 
→ Course and cohort folder 
→ Schedule and assignments 
→ Answer participant questions 

Cohorts are most effective with teams from PSUs with representatives from School Finance/Business office, Central office administrators, EC administration, Medicaid program coordinators/administrators, Related Service providers, and all interested parties. Individuals may also participate. 

Please call Laurie Ray with any questions about this Cohort (919-636-1827).

March 31, 2026, 12pm - 1pm

This virtual session will review the Spring26 Medicaid in Education Cohort:
→ Course and cohort folder
→ Schedule and assignments
→ Answer participant questions

Cohorts are most effective with teams from PSUs with representatives from School Finance/Business office, Central office administrators, EC administration, Medicaid program coordinators/administrators, Related Service providers, and all interested parties. Individuals may also participate. Please call Laurie Ray with any questions about this Cohort (919-636-1827).
 

March 26, 2026, 12pm - 1pm

This virtual session will cover how to become a NC Medicaid provider & initial steps to begin a Medicaid program. Ample time will be reserved for participant questions.

March 24, 2026, 12pm - 1pm

This virtual session will cover how to become a NC Medicaid provider & initial steps to begin a Medicaid program. Ample time will be reserved for participant questions.

March 6, 2026, 12pm - 1pm

This will be a virtual session primarily intended to answer questions and share resources.
→ Questions 
This will be a session primarily intended to answer questions and share resources, including (but not limited to) topics, such as:
→ Participant questions 
→ Evaluation
→ Eligibility
→ IEP Development
→ Logistics
→ Implementation
→ Ethical dilemmas
→ Building and Improving APE programs
→ Professional development
→ Any other topics desired by participants
 

April 15, 2026, 1pm - 3:15pm

This virtual session will offer an opportunity for PT (and other discipline's) practitioners who contract with public school units (districts and charter schools) to discuss best practices; including but not limited to:
→ Contracts
→ Payment terms & Invoicing
→ Contract evaluation/feedback
→ Collaboration
→ Supervision of PTAs
→ Any other topics desired by participants
 

March 19, 2026, 2:30pm - 3:30pm

We are hosting the last School-based PT Journal Club (virtual) for this school year and the APTA School SIG is invited to discuss
→ Description of the Services, Activities, and Interventions within School-based Physical Therapy Practices Across the US (Jeffries, et al; 2019) - definitely read, just 10 pages
→ Nationwide Survey of School-based Physical Therapy Practice (Effgen, et al; 2014) - read or skim if you'd like, just 10 pages
→ Optional: 2 abstracts from Effgen research posters - extra credit!! 
[1 page abstract summaries]

March 18, 2026, 2pm - 3:15pm

This virtual session will focus on developing and improving Physical Therapy programs in PSUs. We will cover: 
→ Developing procedures & shaping/suggesting policy
→ Advocacy
→ Building capacity/collaboration at district level
→ Consistent practice 
→ Developing & Monitoring program goals 
→ Program improvement mechanisms and
→ Any other topics desired by participants
 

March 12, 2026, 12pm - 1:15pm

This virtual session will be a question and answer/discussion roundtable focused on ethical considerations and issues in school-based physical therapy practice. Potential topics could include: 
→ Logistics
→ Implementation
→ Healthy Practice resource
→ Ethical dilemmas 
→ Advocacy
→ Professional development
→ Considerations for Artificial Intelligence 
Participants are encouraged to include their questions and topics they would like to cover in their registration or email to laurie.ray@dpi.nc.gov