2023 OSEP Combined Leadership and Project Directors' Conference

Get ready! The 2023 Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) conference returns in person! OSEP will hold a combined Leadership and Project Directors’ Conference, July 24 – 26, 2023, at the Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel in Arlington, Virginia. The conference will begin Monday morning at 9:00 a.m. ET and will end on Wednesday at 12:00 p.m. ET (times subject to change).

Conference registration and Call for Proposals are now open! There is no registration fee.

OSEP Conference Portal

Use the OSEP Conference Portal to register and/or submit a proposal. You can learn more about the guidelines for the Call for Proposals on the Presenter Information page.

Date

Monday, July 24, 2023 – Wednesday, July 26, 2023

Location

Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel

1700 Richmond Highway 
Arlington, VA 22202 

Meeting Who

Audience

  • Part B State Directors and agency staff working across federal programs
  • Part C Coordinators/619 Coordinators and staff
  • Part B and Part C Data Managers
  • Part D Project Directors, including:
    • Personnel Development Project Directors
    • Technical Assistance and Dissemination Project Directors
    • Educational Technology, Media, and Materials Project Directors
    • Parent Center Project Directors
    • State Personnel Development Grant Project Directors
  • Data Center Project Directors
  • OSEP Doctoral Scholars
  • State Advisory Councils and State Interagency Coordinating Councils
  • Project Evaluators
  • OSEP and U.S. Department of Education staff

Preparing for an In-Person Conference

We look forward to seeing you in person! As we plan a shift from the virtual format, please consider your travel plans and hotel reservations as early as possible to ensure you’re able to attend. See the lodging tab for hotel booking information.

The latest guidance on COVID-19 from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Virginia Department of Health is being considered in planning this event and will be strictly adhered to. Marriott’s COVID-19 safety protocols in compliance with State and CDC guidelines are also available.

Questions?

Check the OSEP Combined Leadership and Project Directors’ Conference website for additional information and conference updates.

If you have additional questions, email the OSEP Conference Planning Team at osep-meeting@air.org.

Presenter Information

The theme of this year’s conference, Connect. Collaborate. Change: The Power of Us, allows for creative approaches to information dissemination and audience engagement. We are excited to be back in person and have expanded our session types to allow for innovation that maximizes information dissemination and audience engagement. 

Proposals can be submitted for Implementation Showcase, Talk, Solo, Micro, Poster, Technology Demonstrations, Meet Up, and Workshop sessions. Additional information about recommended topics, session types, and submission guidelines are 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 and the committee may recommend revisions to the session. You can learn more about the proposal submission and review process in the Instructions for Submitting a Proposal.  

When ready to submit a proposal, register for the conference and submit a proposal through the OSEP Call for Proposals Portal.

Recommended Topics for Proposals 

Submissions should address the following themes or topics and be relevant to multiple audience groups (see list below), with priority given to proposals addressing both Leadership and Project Directors' audiences, where appropriate: 

  • Advancing equity 
  • Empowering all who support transition 
  • Expanding family engagement 
  • Implementing effective dissemination and implementation strategies 
  • Improving academic and developmental outcomes 
  • States supporting improving outcomes for infants, toddlers, children, students, and their families 

Tracks 

Proposal submitters will be required to identify Audience and Topical tracks for their session. 

  • Audience Tracks: Data; Educational Technology, Media and Materials; Fiscal; Part B; Part C/619; Parent Center; Personnel Development Project; State Personnel Development Grant 
  • Topical Tracks: See priority topics above 

Instructions for Submitting a Proposal 

All proposals must be submitted through the OSEP Call for Proposals Portal. When submitting a proposal, you will be prompted to create an account.  

  • Enter the OSEP Call for Proposals Portal to submit your proposal(s) at any time before the submission deadline on Friday, March 10.  
  • Multiple proposals may be submitted on behalf of the same individual and/or organization.  
  • If you wish to make any revisions to a submission prior to Friday, March 10, you may make them in the portal by clicking “edit” next to the proposal’s name.  
  • No revisions will be accepted in the time between the submission deadline and committee review. You will be able to address feedback and make revisions as necessary after review.  
  • You will be notified by email whether your proposal(s) has been accepted and will be able to log into the portal to view your proposal’s 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 feedback, 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. 

All presenters (primary and co-presenters) must register as conference attendees. To register, please visit the 2023 OSEP Leadership and Project Directors’ Conference website.    

Questions? Please contact 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 OSEP’s Leadership and Project Directors audiences, where appropriate.  

  1. Implementation Showcase (75 min) 

    Implementation Showcases feature sites that are effectively implementing policies, practices, or programs that led to improved outcomes for infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities and their families. Typically, 3-5 presenters participate in Implementation Showcases and time (at least 20 minutes) for audience discussion is built in.   

    Examples of possible Implementation Showcases include the following: 

    (1) researcher-practitioner presenter teams describing their experiences implementing an evidence-based practice that improved outcomes for children with disabilities.  

    (2) State Educational Agencies implementing family partnerships and practices that led to improved family engagement.  

    (3) local schools that implement effective processes that engage and empower families to access the appropriate support services needed for successful youth transitions.  

  2. Talk (60 min)  

    Talks are focused, diverse, and dynamic presentations, with 2-4 presenters, focused on a particular topic with time (at least 15 mins) for audience discussion built in.    

  3. Solo (30 min)  

    Solos are 1-2 person presentations highlighting new and emerging ideas or practices with time (at least 10 mins) for audience discussion built in.   

  4. Micro-solo (10 min) 

    Micro-solos are short Solo presentations highlighting new and emerging ideas or practices. Micro-solos will be grouped by the conference planning committee into similarly themed sessions.      

  5. Poster Session 

    Poster sessions provide informal opportunities to discuss your project with a broader audience.  Posters should highlight innovative 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 75-minute block.  

  6. Technology Demonstration 

    Technology Demonstrations offer opportunities to share new and innovative technologies available to practitioners, State education agencies, researchers, and technical assistance providers. Attendees will visit your Technology Demonstration and discuss your product during a 75-minute block.  

  7. Meet Ups and Workshops (60 minutes)  

    Meet Ups and Workshops are speaker-facilitated events and are NOT presentation-based session formats.   

    Meet Ups are networking and brainstorming events that encourage communities to connect around similar topics, passions, roles, or interests. Meet Ups will be scheduled during free periods throughout the conference; sessions may be hosted mornings, evenings, or during lunch breaks. Please use this form to propose a Meet Up session.  

    Workshops are in-depth instructional programs with hands-on learning activities and specific takeaways. 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

Reserve Your Room at the Crystal Gateway Marriott

Crystal Gateway Marriott 
1700 Richmond Highway 
Arlington, VA 22202

* Please use this Marriott's specific address when planning travel, as there are other Marriott hotels nearby.

Please note, 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 above if you are interested in reserving a room on specific nights). Information about nearby hotels offering the same conference rate is posted below.

You may book a continuous stay for all nights of the conference at the following nearby hotel (for the same conference rate):

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

Crystal City Marriott at Reagan National Airport
1999 Richmond Highway
Arlington, VA 22202

Please note, the conference room block at the Crystal City 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).

Reserve Your Room at the Crystal City Marriott at Reagan National Airport

You may use the links above to reserve your room(s) at the conference rate until June 30, 2023. The conference room blocks fill fast; please reserve your room(s) as soon as you know you’ll be attending!

Our conference planning team continues to monitor the room blocks to ensure everyone can secure a room at the conference rate. If you run into any issues reserving your room(s), please email: osep-meeting@air.org

The latest guidance on COVID-19 from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Virginia Department of Health is being considered in planning this event and will be strictly adhered to. Marriott’s COVID-19 safety protocols in compliance with CDC and World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines are also available.

Maps

 

Getting to the Conference

Nearby Airports:

  • Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport - DCA
    • Distance from hotel: 2 miles
    • Transportation:
      • Airport shuttle service, scheduled, complimentary
      • Shuttle Phone:703-920-3230
  • Washington Dulles International Airport - IAS
    • Distance from hotel: 27 miles
    • Transportation
      • The hotel does not provide shuttle service to/from IAD
  • Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport - BWI
    • Distance from hotel: 37 miles
    • Transportation 
    • 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 Line) - 0.1 miles
    • Crystal City is one stop from the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport metro stop
  • Train Stations:

Dining Information 

Dining Options at the Hotel 

Dining Options within Walking Distance: 

Coffee & Quick Bites  

  • Jefferson Café (.2 miles; coffee, sandwiches) 
  • Lily Bubble Tea & Smoothie (.5 mile; bubble tea, coffee, fruit drinks) 
  • Dunkin Donuts (.3 miles; breakfast, sweets, coffee) 
  • Starbucks Coffee (.4 miles; coffee, pastries) 
  • Amazon Fresh (.4 miles; groceries, prepared foods) 
  • Mah-Ze-Dahr Bakery (.3 miles; coffee, pastries) 
  • WFM Coffee & Juice Bar (.4 miles; coffee, juice, pastries) 
  • Gallery Café (.4 miles; coffee, sandwiches, salads) 
  • Commonwealth Joe Coffee Roasters (.4 miles; coffee, pastries) 
  • Origin Coffee Lab & Kitchen (.8 miles; coffee, pastries) 

Recommended for Lunch 

  • Paramount Café (.1 miles; sandwiches) 
  • Ribeye Philadelphia Steak (.2 miles; sandwiches) 
  • Sushi Garden (.2 miles; sushi) 
  • Subway (.2 miles; sandwiches) 
  • Gallery Café (.3 miles; sandwiches, wraps) 
  • Good Stuff Eatery (.3 miles; burgers, fries, and shakes) 
  • Chipotle (.3 miles; fast-food Mexican chain) 
  • Atia Kabob Place (.3 miles; casual Mediterranean) 
  • The Perfect Pita (.3 miles; casual Mediterranean) 
  • Tacombi (.3 miles; Mexican) 
  • Neramitra Thai Cuisine (.3 miles; Thai) 
  • Jimmy Johns (.5 miles; sandwiches) 
  • Sweetgreen (.5 miles; salads) 
  • RASA (.5 miles; Indian) 
  • Mezeh Mediterranean Grill (.7 miles; casual Mediterranean) 

Recommended for Dinner  

  • Morton's The Steakhouse (.2 miles; steakhouse) 
  • San Antonio Bar & Grill (.2 miles; Mexican-American, bar) 
  • McCormick & Schmick's Seafood & Steaks (.3 miles; steak and seafood) 
  • Ruth's Chris Steak House (.3 miles; steakhouse) 
  • Los Tios (.4 miles; .4 miles, Mexican and Salvadorian food) 
  • Potomac Social Tavern (.3 miles; American, pub fare) 
  • Highline RxR Bar & Restaurant (.5 miles; American, pub fare) 
  • Epic Smokehouse (.5 miles; steakhouse and barbeque) 
  • Extreme Pizza (.5 miles; pizza) 
  • We, The Pizza (.5 min; pizza) 
  • Crystal City Sports Pub (.5 miles; pub fare) 
  • Urban Thai (.5 miles; Thai) 
  • Enjera (.5 miles; Ethiopian and Eritrean) 
  • Portofino (.5 miles; Italian) 
  • Nighthawk Brewery & Pizza (.7 miles; pizza, bar) 
  • Lebanese Taverna (.8 miles; Middle Eastern) 

All Day 

  • Bob and Edith’s Diner (.4 miles; classic diner food) 
  • The Freshman (.4 miles; American bistro) 
  • Kabob Palace (.4 miles; Middle Eastern food) 

More dining options are available in the Crystal City Shops, linked directly to the hotel via an underground tunnel. Visit their website to view about these dining options. 

View an interactive map of dining options near the Conference Hotel 

Activities 

Crystal City in Arlington, Virginia is located just outside of Washington, D.C. You’re just minutes away from the buzz of the city or the quaint vibe of Old Town Alexandria. Explore these sites to learn more about activities, events, and places to see in the D.C./Northern Virginia area: 

Nearby Attractions: 

Washington DC Metro Area Activities 

Call for Proposals