2026 HECSE SHORT COURSE

The Next HECSE Policy and Advocacy Short Course Will Be at the 2026 Winter Summit!
The HECSE Short Course: Education Policy and Advocacy in the Nation’s Capital

A long-standing purpose of HECSE is to influence sound educational policy through member research and advocacy. Continuing a tradition that began in 2015 under the leadership of Dr. Jane West, HECSE Consultant, and Katie Shepperd, HECSE President, the HECSE Board is pleased to once again offer the HECSE Policy and Advocacy Short Course.

Over the years, the Policy and Advocacy Short Course has been thoughtfully directed by a variety of leaders, largely focused on the same learning objectives envisioned by HECSE at its inception:

• To expose doctoral scholars to the organizational structure and key players in special-education policymaking in the nation’s capital, including governmental agencies, nonprofit organizations, and coalitions
• To provide doctoral scholars with a working knowledge of the legislative process
• To empower doctoral scholars with the skills and knowledge to be effective advocates on behalf of students with disabilities, special education, and equity
• To impart the doctoral scholars with an understanding the history, purpose, and impact of HECSE

To date, approximately 100 doctoral scholars from member institutions of higher education across the nation have participated in the Policy and Advocacy Short Course. Graduates have gone on to work as advocates and policy makers on Capitol Hill, serve as research and teaching faculty in higher education, and produce scholarship and research related to policy. With membership support, the HECSE Board is proud to continue investing in the next generation of special education leaders who will advocate for sound educational policy that benefits individuals with disabilities, their families, and their educators.