About The Program
The Special Education Congress is an invite-only event for senior K–12 leaders facing urgent challenges—staffing shortages, behavioral needs, compliance shifts, and funding pressure. Join your peers to exchange real strategies, solve problems collaboratively, and strengthen special education programs across the South.
Past Keynote Speaker
A dynamic roster of keynote speakers drives innovation at our congress events. Discover thought leaders and game-changers whose invaluable insights foster growth and excellence in each of our delegates.
Special School District of St Louis County, Missouri
Topics Of Discussion
Staffing & Retention That Actually Works
Practical strategies to recruit, develop, and retain SPED staff while reducing burnout and stabilizing teams.
From IEP to Impact
How to move beyond compliance and build IEPs that drive real instruction, consistency, and student outcomes.
AI in Special Education: What’s Working Now
Where AI is adding real value today, and how to implement it safely while managing bias, privacy, and compliance risks.
Compliance & High-Stakes Decision-Making
Frameworks for navigating due process, legal risk, and resource constraints while making defensible leadership decisions.
Maximizing Resources in a Constrained Environment
How to align staffing, budgets, and services to student needs while making smarter tradeoffs with limited funding.
Fixing Workload, Caseload & Burnout
System-level changes to reduce overload, improve working conditions, and retain high-performing staff.
Coaching & Development That Builds Capacity
Creating sustainable staff development systems that strengthen instruction and reduce reliance on external hiring.
Progress Monitoring That Drives Decisions
Turning data into action by aligning progress monitoring with instruction and real-time decision-making.
Behavior & Mental Health Systems That Scale
Building tiered, practical support systems that address rising behavioral and mental health needs in schools.
Special Education Systems That Actually Function
Designing cohesive, aligned SPED programs that improve consistency, efficiency, and outcomes across districts.
Transition to Workforce & Post-Secondary Success
84% of delegates said this is the best event they’ve attended all year
Past Speakers
Agua Fria Union High School District, Arizona
Adelanto Elementary School District, California
Boulder Valley School District, Colorado
Portland Public Schools, Oregon
Hays Unified School District 489, Kansas
Lewis-Palmer School District No. 38, Colorado
Cartwright School District #83, Arizona
Ann Arbor Public Schools, Michigan
Harrison School District Two, Colorado
The Schedule
Event Registration
Opening Keynote
Strategy Sessions/Business Meetings
Afternoon Refreshments & Networking
Strategy Sessions/Business Meetings/Roundtable Discussions/Workshops
Free Time
Welcome Reception & Dinner
Networking Breakfast
Morning Keynote/Panel Session
Strategy Sessions/Business Meetings
Morning Refreshments & Networking
Strategy Sessions/Business Meetings
Workshops/Roundtable Discussions
Networking Luncheon
Roundtables/Business Meetings/Workshops
Afternoon Refreshments & Networking
Strategy Sessions/Business Meetings
Closing Day Keynote
Free Time
Networking Reception & Dinner
Morning Refreshments & Networking
Workshops/Roundtable Discussions
Brunch
Strategy Sessions/Business Meetings
Closing Keynote
Why Attend?
Takeaways You Can Actually Use
Walk away with practical strategies for staffing, behavior, compliance, and instruction–built for real district settings.
A Community that Understands You
Join superintendents and special ed leaders for real conversations with peers who face the same challenges. This is a space for trust
Partners Who Know K-12
Meet solution providers who get your world and offer tools that solve real problems, not just check a box.
Delegate Testimonials
This has been the most relevant conference that I’ve experienced in a very long time. I attend 2-3 professional conferences annually, and I’m taking more applicable content back from just Day 1 than I can recall in 39 years of work in education
RTM provides a unique experience that blends networking, learning, and opportunities to get to know industry partners. The big difference from the typical conference is the opportunity to meet with industry partners in an informal conversation while also learning from their experience. There are great opportunities to build a healthy learning and resource network with colleagues, industry experts, and industry partners. The opportunities are vast and the experience is powerful.
An impeccably organized event where educators from diverse corners of the country unite to share their narratives, contributing significantly to advancing the educational landscape.
I am thrilled I was afforded the opportunity to participate in my first RTM experience. It was refreshing to be surrounded by so many like-minded professionals who understand the barriers we are all facing. I was pleased with the way the RTM staff worked so diligently from the registration process to the final session. First class all the way!
