2024 OSEP Conference
Get ready! We are excited to announce the 2024 OSEP combined Leadership and Project Directors’ Conference will be held from August 6 - 8, 2024, at the Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel in Arlington, Virginia.
The theme of the 2024 conference is Early Beginnings to Bright Futures.
Conference registration and call for proposals is now open! Access the Registration & Proposal Portal.
1700 Richmond Highway
Arlington, VA 22202
Individuals with the following affiliations are invited to register and attend:
- Personnel Development Program Project Directors and staff
- Educational Technology, Media, and Materials Program Project Directors and staff
- Parent Training and Information Center Project Directors and staff
- Technical Assistance and Dissemination Program Project Directors and staff
- State Personnel Development Grants Program Project Directors and staff
- OSEP and U.S. Department of Education staff
- OSEP Scholars and Interns
- Poster Session Exhibitors
- Part B and Part C Data Managers
- Part B State Directors and Agency staff working across federal programs
- Part C Coordinators/619 Coordinators and staff
- State Advisory Councils and State Interagency Coordinating Councils
- Data Center Project Directors
- Project Evaluators
An Invitation From Valerie Williams
Valerie Williams, Director of the Office of Special Education Programs, invites participants to attend the 2024 OSEP Leadership Conference.
Questions?
If you have any questions, please email the OSEP Conference Planning Team at osep-meeting@air.org.
Presenter Information
2024 Call for Proposals is Now Closed
The theme of this year’s conference, Early Beginnings to Bright Futures, inspires us to explore recent advancements and evidence-based practices focused on improving outcomes for infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities and their families. We are excited to offer a range of session types that allow for innovative presentation formats, facilitate knowledge sharing, and maximize audience engagement. Together, we can reshape the narrative related to disability and create pathways for children with disabilities to thrive and reach their full potential.
OSEP invites proposal submissions for the following session types:
- Implementation Showcases
- Talks
- OSEP Scholar and Intern Showcases
- Posters
- Technology Demonstrations
- Meetups
- Workshops
Additional information about each session type, submission guidelines, and participation guidelines are available below.
Please note, all proposals will be reviewed by the OSEP Proposal Review Committee. Submitting a session proposal will not necessarily result in an acceptance. The committee reserves the right to recommend revisions to a session or combine multiple sessions to maximize perspectives represented and diversify dialogue on topics.
Learn more about the proposal submission and review process in the Instructions for Submitting a Proposal.
Recommended Topics for Proposals
The Proposal Review Committee will prioritize session proposals related to the OSEP Director’s priority topics (list below) and focused on improving services and outcomes for infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities and their families.
Proposals should spotlight innovative practices related to:
- Advancing equity
- Transition: promoting partnerships, meaningful planning, and successful execution
- Expanding meaningful family engagement for all communities
- Utilizing effective dissemination and implementation strategies
- Improving academic and developmental outcomes
- Preparing and supporting instructional leaders’ professional growth
- The quest for outcomes-based work: States’ support for infants, toddlers, children, and students
- Improving effective use of assistive technology, accessibility practices, and accessible educational materials
- Improving outcomes for military-connected infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities and their families
Preference will be given to proposals that:
- Represent collaboration among a broad range of stakeholders.
- Provide examples of how institutions of higher education (IHEs), State educational agencies (SEAs), or local educational agencies (LEAs) incorporate innovative practices into current infrastructures and priorities.
- Include an evaluation measuring the impact of the proposed practice or strategy.
- Address multiple aspects of the research-to-practice continuum, such as research on evidence-based practices and/or pedagogy, training, professional development, and technical assistance.
- Address data use, management, or quality to support data-informed decisions to improve results for infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities and their families.
- Include practitioners, local administrators, and family members as presenters.
Instructions for Submitting a Proposal
All proposals must be submitted through the OSEP Registration & Proposal Portal. When submitting a proposal, you will first be prompted to register for the conference and create an account.
Note: prior to registering, you must first create an account for multi-factor authentication on login.gov with the same email you intend to use to register for the conference. Multi-factor authentication will be required every time you wish to enter the portal. Additional information is available on the portal’s landing page as well as at login.gov.
- Enter the Registration and Proposal Portal to submit your proposal(s) any time before the submission deadline on Friday, February 23 by 5pm Eastern.
- Multiple proposals may be submitted on behalf of the same individual and/or organization.
- If you wish to make any revisions to an existing submission prior to Friday, February 23, you may do so in the portal by clicking “edit” next to the proposal’s name.
- No revisions will be accepted following the submission deadline. You will be given the opportunity to address any feedback and make revisions as necessary after the committee’s review.
- Please note, the number of proposed presenters is limited based on the session type. Presenter limits are listed below.
Presenter Limits by Session Type
Session | Maximum Number of Presenters |
---|---|
Implementation Showcases | 5 |
Talk | 4 |
OSEP Scholar/Intern Showcase | 2 |
Poster | 4 |
Technology Demonstration | 2 |
Meetup | 4 |
Workshop | 4 |
- You will be notified by email whether your proposal(s) has been reviewed and will be able to log into the portal to view your proposal’s decision status.
- If your proposal(s) is accepted, you will be asked to confirm your intention to present at the conference. If the OSEP Proposal Review Committee provides any feedback or suggests any revisions, you will need to make all necessary changes to your proposal submission(s) by the given deadline.
- Once you have confirmed your intention to present and address the OSEP Proposal Review Committee’s feedback (if applicable), you will receive instructions for submitting your presentation materials.
Roles and Responsibilities
Primary Contact. The individual who completes and submits a proposal will be considered the proposal’s primary contact. As the primary contact, they should plan to answer any questions and take any action related to the proposal submission. Dependent on the session’s acceptance by the Proposal Review Committee, this will include:
- Reviewing feedback from the Proposal Review Committee and confirming intention to present at the conference.
- Uploading all session-related materials.
Primary Presenter. The primary presenter will receive ALL communication regarding the submission, including decisions on acceptance. The primary presenter will also be responsible for ensuring that all co-presenters associated with the session are notified of acceptance decisions and are registered for the conference.
Co-Presenters. Co-Presenters will receive communications as relevant about proposal submissions.
All presenters (primary and co-presenters) must register as conference attendees.
To register, please visit the OSEP Registration & Proposal Portal.
Have any remaining questions? Email the conference planning team at osep-meeting@air.org.
Session Types:
Session types for this year’s conference are described below. OSEP strongly encourages that Implementation Showcases and Talks include presenters across audience types, as appropriate.
Implementation Showcases (75 min)
About Implementation Showcase Sessions
Implementation Showcase are 75-minute sessions featuring policies, practices, or programs with demonstrated impacts for improving outcomes for infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities and their families. Presenters should provide data on who was impacted; implementation of the policy practice, or program; and achieved outcomes. Presenters should also discuss recommendations for replicating and scaling the policy, practice, or program. Implementation showcases include 3-5 presenters across several participant groups, and at least 20 minutes is built in for audience discussion.
A strong Implementation Showcase proposal could look like (but should not be limited to) one of the following:
- Researcher-practitioner presenter teams describing their experiences implementing an evidence-based practice that improved outcomes for children with disabilities.
- State Educational Agencies implementing family partnerships and practices that demonstrate improved family engagement.
- Local schools implementing effective processes that engage and empower families to access the appropriate support services needed for successful youth transitions.
Talk Sessions (45 Min)
About Talk Sessions
Talk sessions are 45-minute sessions for participants to share effective practices or highlight innovative ideas in personnel preparation, research, technical assistance (TA), technology, and policy for improving results for infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities and their families. At least 15 minutes should be built in for audience discussion.
OSEP Scholar and Intern Showcases (10 Min)
About OSEP Scholar and Intern Showcases
OSEP Scholar and Intern Showcases are 10-minute presentations given by OSEP Scholars and Interns. Presenters will highlight their research and scholarship related to results for infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities and their families. The showcases may be grouped by the conference planning team into similarly themed sessions.
Poster Sessions (60 Min)
About Poster Sessions
Posters provide informal opportunities to discuss your project with a broader audience. Posters should highlight effective practices in your State, program, or individual grant that led to improved outcomes for infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities and their families. Attendees will visit your poster and hear about your work during a 60-minute block.
Technology Demonstrations (60 Min)
About Technology Demonstrations
Technology Demonstrations are 60-minute sessions offering opportunities to share new and innovative technologies available to practitioners, State and local education agencies, researchers, and technical assistance providers.
Technology Demonstration presenters will present technology in an interactive manner by:
- Describing who the technology is intended to benefit,
- Walking users through the technology, and
- Highlighting key features relevant for audiences looking to implement these technologies in their local context.
Attendees will visit your Technology Demonstration and discuss your product during a 60-minute block.
Meetups (60 Min)
About Meetups
Meetups are 60-minute networking and brainstorming events that encourage communities to connect around similar topics, passions, roles, or interests. Note-takers and follow-up actions are encouraged. Meetups are speaker-facilitated events and are NOT presentation-based session formats.
- Meetups will be scheduled during free periods throughout the conference; sessions may be hosted mornings, evenings, or during lunch breaks.
- Meetup leads will receive further information, including discussion guidance, from the conference planning team through email.
Workshops (60 Min)
About Workshops
Workshops are 60-minute, in-depth instructional programs with hands-on learning activities and specific takeaways. Workshops are speaker-facilitated events and are NOT presentation-based session formats.
- Audience participation should be incorporated throughout, not just reserved for questions at the end of the session.
Evaluations
Symposium Prework
Symposium Postwork
Special Needs
Mobile Website
Lodging, Dining, Activities
Hotel Reservations
The conference room block at the Crystal Gateway Marriott has filled and rooms are no longer available all nights of the conference (you may check the link below if you are interested in reserving a room on specific nights). Nearby hotels offering continuous stays at the same conference rate are posted below.
Crystal Gateway Marriott
1700 Richmond Highway
Arlington, VA 22202
* Please make sure to use this Marriott's specific address when planning travel, as there are other Marriott hotels nearby.
Additional Lodging for Continuous Nights
You may book a continuous stay for all nights of the conference at the following nearby hotels for the same conference rate until July 15, 2024:
Crystal City Marriott at Reagan National Airport
1999 Richmond Highway
Arlington, VA 22202
Reserve Your Room at the Crystal City Marriott at Reagan National Airport
Hilton Arlington National Landing
2399 Richmond Highway
Arlington, VA 22202
Reserve Your Room at the Hilton Arlington National Landing
Westin Crystal City at Reagan National Airport
1800 Richmond Highway
Arlington, VA 22202
Reserve Your Room at the Westin Crystal City at Reagan National Airport
Our conference planning team continues to monitor the room blocks to ensure everyone is able to secure a room at the conference rate. If you run into any issues reserving your room(s), please email osep-meeting@air.org.
Map
Getting to the Conference
Nearby Airports:
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport - DCA
- Distance from hotel: 2 miles
Transportation
- Metro accessible from Crystal City Station using the Blue/Yellow lines. Only one stop from Crystal City to Reagan National Airport.
- Plan your trip to/from the airport using WMATA’s Trip Planner
- Airport shuttle service, scheduled, complimentary
- Shuttle Phone:703-920-3230
Washington Dulles International Airport - IAD
- Distance from hotel: 27 miles
Transportation
- Metro accessible to/from Crystal City Station using the Blue and Silver lines
- Plan your trip to/from the airport using WMATA’s Trip Planner
- The hotel does not provide shuttle service to/from IAD
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport - BWI
- Distance from hotel: 37 miles
Transportation
- Learn more about the transportation options to/from BWI.
- The hotel does not provide shuttle service to/from BWI
Other Transportation
- Taxi/Uber/Lyft
- There are taxi stands available at all airports; and Uber/Lyft drivers are able to pick up and drop off passengers at all airports (surcharges may apply)
- Metro/Subway Station :
- Crystal City (Blue/Yellow Line) - 0.1 miles
- Crystal City is one stop from the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport metro stop.
- Train Stations
- Union Station - 5 miles
- Virginia Railway Express - 0.4 miles
Dining Options
Crystal Gateway Marriott
Dining and Activities
Dining Options Within a 5 Minute Walk from the Conference Hotel
Great for Coffee or a Quick Bite
- Starbucks Coffee (0.2 miles; Coffee, pastries)
- Dunkin Donuts* (0.1 miles; Coffee, pastries)
- Lily Bubble Tea & Smoothie* (0.2 mile; Bubble tea, coffee, fruit drinks)
- Sushi Garden* (0.2 miles; Sushi)
- The Perfect Pita* (0.3 miles; casual Mediterranean)
- Atia Kabob Place (0.3 miles; casual Mediterranean)
- Neramitra Thai* (0.3 miles; Thai)
- Subway* (0.2 miles; sandwiches)
- Cold Stone Creamery* (0.3 miles; Ice cream)
- Gallery Café (0.3 miles; sandwiches, wraps)
- Amazon Fresh (0.4 miles; groceries, prepared foods)
Recommended for Lunch or Dinner
- Morton's The Steakhouse (0.2 miles; Steakhouse)
- Ribeye Philadelphia Steak (0.2 miles; sandwiches)
- Jefferson Café (0.2 miles; coffee, sandwiches)
- Potomac Social Tavern (0.3 miles; American, pub fare)
- Chipotle Mexican Grill* (0.3 miles; fast-food Mexican chain)
*Please note that options marked with an asterisk (*) are located in the Crystal City Shops, an underground mall accessible through a pedestrian tunnel in the Crystral Gateway Marriott lobby. *
Dining Options 5 – 10 Minute Walk from the Conference Hotel
Great for Coffee or a Quick Bite
- Brij Coffeehouse (0.3 miles; Coffee, pastries)
- Mah-Ze-Dahr Bakery (0.3 miles; Coffee, pastries)
- Cracked Eggery (0.3 miles; Coffee, egg sandwiches)
Recommended for Lunch or Dinner
- Sweetgreen* (0.5 miles; salads)
- Bob and Edith’s Diner (0.4 miles; Classic diner food)
- Kabob Palace (0.4 miles; Middle Eastern food)
- Extreme Pizza (0.5 miles; pizza)
- We, The Pizza (0.5 miles; pizza)
- McCormick & Schmick's Seafood & Steaks (0.3 miles; Steak and Seafood)
- Tacombi (0.3 miles; Mexican)
- Epic Smokehouse (0.5 miles; Steakhouse and barbeque)
- Crystal City Sports Pub (0.5 miles; pub fare)
- Good Stuff Eatery (0.3 miles; burgers, fries, and shakes)
- Enjera (0.5 miles; Ethiopian and Eritrean)
- PhoWheels (0.3 miles; Vietnamese)
- Bubbie’s Plant Burgers (0.3 miles; Vegan, American food)
- Queen Mother's Kitchen (0.3 miles; chicken sandwiches)
- Water Bar (0.4 miles; seafood, cocktails)
- DC Dosa (0.3 miles; fast-casual Indian)
- Tiki Thai Water Park (0.3 miles; Thai)
- Falafel Inc (0.3 miles; casual Middle Eastern)
- Crush Pizza & Wine (0.3 miles; Pizza)
- Los Tios (0.4 miles, Mexican and Salvadorian food)
- Chevys (0.5 miles; Mexican)
- California Pizza Kitchen at Pentagon (0.5 miles; Pizza, salads)
Dining Options More than 10 Minutes from the Conference Hotel
Recommended for Lunch or Dinner
- Mezeh Mediterranean Grill (0.7 miles; casual Mediterranean)
- Nighthawk Brewery and Pizza (0.7 miles; pizza, bar)
- Highline RxR Bar & Restaurant (0.5 miles; American, pub fare)
- Lebanese Taverna (0.8 miles; Middle Eastern)
- Ruth's Chris Steak House (0.4 miles; Steakhouse)
- RASA (0.5 miles; fast-casual Indian)
- Urban Thai Restaurant (0.5 miles; Thai)
Nearby Activities
The Washington DC and Northern Viginia area have a host of unique attractions and activities! Many are accessible via the Washington Metropolitan Area MetroRail system.
Nearby Attractions
- Fashion Centre at Pentagon City (Pentagon City Mall)
- Pentagon Row Shopping Mall
- Long Bridge Park
- Gravelly Point Park & Mount Vernon Trail
- Black Heritage Museum of Arlington
- Visit Arlington National Cemetery
Washington DC Metro Area Activities
- Stroll the National Mall
- Explore Smithsonian Museums along the National Mall and throughout Washington DC
- Check out the historic Georgetown neighborhood in Washington DC for dining, shopping, and waterfront views
- Walk, shop, and dine along Alexandria’s historic King Street and Waterfront district
Additional links with more suggested activities:
Call for Proposals
Coming Soon!
Speaker Bios
Coming Soon!