Policy and Advocacy Portal
The TED Policy Committee
The TED Policy Committee meets virtually every month, to discuss happenings and events that impact the special education teacher workforce, including preparation, professional learning and development opportunities, and retention efforts. Many members of the TED Policy Committee actively engage in workgroups to develop Advocacy Briefs, create content for our Collaboration Podcast, and identify award and fellowship recipients.
If you want to learn more, please email Lucky Mason-Williams, current chair (lmason-williams@binghamton.edu).
TED Policy Priorities
- Uphold and strengthen equitable access to services and supports for individuals with exceptionalities across the lifespan, including protections under IDEA and complementary policies that promote inclusive, responsive systems.
- Invest in the preparation, professional learning, and sustained support of special education professionals and faculty, ensuring they are equipped to meet the needs of all learners.
- Build and sustain a strong, representative, and well-supported special education workforce, by supporting and expanding access to high-quality preparation pathways and programs, improving working conditions, and promoting competitive compensation.
These priorities were approved by the TED Presidential Line in April 2026. The Policy Committee supports TED in upholding these priorities through initiatives and resources, as detailed below.
TED Policy Committee Initiatives & Resources
The TED Policy Committee keeps a live Google doc with comprehensive resources to support advocacy initiatives. To view the latest toolkit, please visit: https://tinyurl.com/TEDpolicy
If you are interested in contributing to or otherwise supporting the toolkit, please contact Melissa Cornelius-Freyre at melissa.cornelius-freyre@my.utsa.edu.
Stay in the know with the TED Washington Update- a weekly update penned by our TED Policy Advisor, Dr. Kaitlyn Brennan, including the most recent happenings in Washington DC as it relates to education policy and how this impacts your work. Alerts call attention to critical issues requiring immediate action and increased member engagement to affect change.
To view current and past editions of the Washington Update please click here.
Are you interested in learning more about the most up-to-the-minute happenings in Washington DC as it relates to education policy? Does it ever feel overwhelming to digest in the Washington Update? Join us for a virtual convening on the 4th Thursday of the month with TED Policy Advisor Dr. Kait Brennan and TED Policy Committee Chair Dr. Lucky Mason-Williams. Kait will spend the first 30 minutes providing an update on the most recent happenings in Washington DC as it relates to education policy and how this impacts your work. Dr. Mason-Williams and the TED Policy Committee will then spend the last 30 minutes facilitating a dialogue surrounding TED’s policy and legislative priorities. Convenings will be held via Zoom at 3:00 PM EST on the 4th Thursday of each month. This is a TED Member benefit , you should have received the link as a member, but if you did not please email ted@exceptionalchildren.org
The TED Policy Committee is active on social media with the latest policy and advocacy news, resources, and initiatives!
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cec_ted_policy/
- Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/cec-ted-policy.bsky.social
- Linktree: https://linktr.ee/cec_ted_policy
In addition to social media, the TED Policy Committee also produces the TED and CEC Collaboration Podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. In this podcast, we share stories pertaining to special education advocacy and policy as well as podcast-versions of the Washington update blog.
If you are interested in helping with social media content for the TED Policy Committee or want to support or be a guest on the TED and CEC Collaboration Podcast, please contact Danielle Waterfield at dla9ck@virginia.edu.
Looking for additional information about advocacy or the policy-making process? Want to get involved or help your students to get involved? This series of short briefs aims to help answer these questions! Check back often for updates!
- Advocacy Brief 1- Using TED & CEC Resources HERE
- Advocacy Brief 2- Incorporating Advocacy in Higher Education HERE
- Advocacy Brief 3- SELS HERE
- Advocacy Brief 4- Federal Appropriations Process HERE
- Advocacy Brief 5: IDEA 50th Anniversary HERE
If you are interested in helping with Advocacy Briefs, please contact Addie McConomy at mmcconomy@fsu.edu.
Sign-on letters and endorsements are a great way to ensure that your voice is heard in support of advocacy efforts. These letters will be sent to legislators to educate them about a topic at hand and to influence their decisions on matters that would help improve the lives of children.
- TEACH Grant Letter
- IDEA Funding For FY2024 Letter
- FY2024 Friends of IES Appropriations Letter
- CTQ COVID-relief Recommendations Ed Committees
- Response to Professional Development Voucher Proposal
- CCD Letter Opposing IDEA/Rehab Act Waivers
- CCD-LRE-Position-Statement-final
- IDEA Personnel Preparation Senate Funding Request 6.28.19
- TQP Senate Funding Request 6.26.19
- Appropriations Letter 3.21.19
- Joint Letter on 2014 Discipline Guidance Rescission_1.24.19
Get involved
The TED Policy Committee meets virtually every month, to discuss happenings and events that impact Teacher Preparation. We use member input to continue to work towards achieving the goals of the TED policy agenda and mission.
Committee Members assist with developing advocacy materials and disseminating information to TED members. Please email lmason-williams@binghamton.edu for more information!
The TED Policy Committee meets every third Wednesday at 1 pm EST. If you are interested in participating or learning more, please contact Lucky Mason-Williams, lmason-williams@binghamton.edu
CEC’s Special Education Legislative Summit
Held in Washington, D.C., the Special Education Legislative Summit (SELS) is an opportunity for educators from across the country to make a difference by advocating for change with Members of Congress. To learn more about SELS, visit: https://specialeducationlegislativesummit.org
TED provides several $1,000 sponsorships each year for TED members to attend SELS. The due date to apply for sponsorship to SELS 2026 has passed. If you are interested in the sponsorship for SELS 2027, please check this site and/or the TED Policy Committee social media accounts in early in 2027 for more information.
The TED Policy Workgroup seeks motivated, policy-oriented doctoral students interested in learning more about advocacy, policy development, and implications for research in special education and teacher preparation. This highly individualized, student-led experience can be tailored to the doctoral student’s interests and talents, providing opportunities for collaborating with members of the TED Policy Workgroup, assisting with social media campaigns, creating content for Advocacy Briefs and Congressional staff members, working on policy analyses, and contributing to the preparation for the Special Education Legislative Summit (SELS) in July. Two TED Policy Fellows will be selected by the TED Policy Workgroup each year.
The due date for applying for these opportunities is June 1, 2026. Please contact Lucky Mason-Williams for more details.
Honor someone for their advocacy
This award is presented annually, at the TED Conference, to an individual who is involved in advocating for special education teacher preparation (e.g., government relations, letter writing, visits to Congressional Members), and is committed to continuing this work in the future.
Contact Information
For general inquiries regarding the TED Policy Committee, please send emails to:
| Dr. Loretta (Lucky) Mason-Williams TED Policy Committee Chair Email: lmason@binghamton.edu |
| Dr. Kaitlyn Brennan TED Policy Advisor Email: kaitlynbrennan88@gmail.com |