Educational Advocacy Certification Program

Wednesday, June 25, 2014 and
Thursday, June 26, 2014

The Second Judicial Circuit Guardian ad Litem Program is hosting a training of interest to volunteer guardians ad litem.

Join us on Wednesday, June 25 and Thursday, June 26, 2014 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at our offices for Educational Advocacy Certification Program classroom sessions.

In concert with self-study reading assignments and a separate educational surrogate class, this two-day program provides volunteers and staff with advanced information and tools to provide for educational advocacy.

The class will include training on a variety of topics.

  • Classroom Topics
  • Individual Education Plans (IEP) and what they mean
  • Exceptional Student Education (ESE), Section 504 eligibility requirements and the 504 plans
  • Response to intervention: what is it and what role can you play?
  • Testing requirements: national (ACT, PSAT, SAT), state (FCAT) and local (BAT)
  • How to access services mandated by the interagency agreement (e.g., transportation)
  • Graduation requirements
  • Student promotion and retention policies
  • School district policies for absences
  • Interpreting school report cards
  • Free and reduced lunch eligibility
  • Local policy on bullying prevention
  • Accessible services for LGBT students in middle and high school

Educational Advocacy Certification Program: Need to Know includes all of the self-study materials in a single download (200 pages). It is recommended that you read the "Need to Know" packet prior to the classroom sessions. This is not a prerequisite; however information in the self-study materials will be used in the classroom, so it will help for you to be familiar with it.

Also available for reference is the Educational Advocacy Document Library, containing the self-study items plus an additional 252 pages all separated into twenty-nine topical documents.

Participants may receive four (4) hours of continuing education credit for the classroom sessions and four (4) hours of credit for the self-study reading assignments. Afterward, report your hours quickly and easily using our eForm.

The training is free. You can download the event flyer and register with the event contact below.

If you have not already completed the separate educational surrogate course, register for the class on Monday, June 23, 2014 or contact Chris Heron at (850) 487-7135 or heronc@leonschools.net for more information.

We hope to see you there!

Icon: Calendar Link Events Summary Event Summary
  • Who
    Second Judicial Circuit Guardian ad Litem Program
  • What
    Educational Advocacy Certification Program
  • Where
    Leon County Court Annex
    1920 Thomasville Road, Tallahassee, Florida 32303 Icon: Map
  • When
    Wednesday, June 25, 2014, 6:00 PM-8:00 PM and
    Thursday, June 26, 2014, 6:00 PM-8:00 PM
  • Event Contact
    Christine Gornik
    maritza.waddle@gal.fl.gov
    (850) 606-1228
First Published May 26, 2014