Get Involved with NAPSEC Committees
Looking to take your NAPSEC membership a step further? Participating in NAPSEC committees or affinity groups is one of the most impactful ways to deepen your engagement, share expertise, and collaborate with peers across private special education and adult services.
NAPSEC’s leadership committees guide the association's strategic direction, while affinity groups provide space for connection, learning, and shared problem-solving among professionals working in similar settings. Together, these professional education committees advance NAPSEC’s mission and strengthen our collective voice.
NAPSEC Committee Overview
Committee Roles and Responsibilities
NAPSEC’s committees play a vital role in advancing organizational priorities, including governance, advocacy, financial stewardship, member engagement, and national leadership development. These special education committees are made up of experienced leaders who bring insight, collaboration, and accountability to the association’s work.
Public Policy Committee
The Public Policy Committee is central to NAPSEC's advocacy and policy work. This committee identifies and advances NAPSEC’s public policy priorities by monitoring federal education policy, engaging with policymakers, and influencing legislation and funding that impact private special education programs. Through this work, the committee ensures NAPSEC remains the indispensable voice for specialized education nationwide.
Governance Committee
The Governance Committee supports strong leadership and effective oversight across the organization. This committee focuses on Board development, leadership succession planning, committee effectiveness, and maintaining up-to-date governance policies and practices.
Finance Committee
The Finance Committee supports the Board in overseeing NAPSEC’s financial health and long-term sustainability. Responsibilities include reviewing financial reports, monitoring revenue and investment strategies, and recommending updates to financial policies that promote accountability and stewardship.
Membership Committee
The Membership Committee strengthens the NAPSEC member experience by focusing on engagement, retention, and growth. This committee leads outreach efforts, welcomes new members, and continually evaluates member benefits to ensure NAPSEC remains a high-value, mission-driven professional community.
Conference Committee
The Conference Committee oversees planning for the NAPSEC Annual Leadership Conference—one of the association’s most important events. The committee identifies relevant topics, supports speaker selection, and partners with staff to ensure a high-quality, impactful conference experience.
Affinity Groups
Peer Connection and Practical Learning
NAPSEC affinity groups bring members together for shared learning and collaboration with peers facing similar challenges or serving similar populations. These groups support professional growth, innovation, and connection across settings.
NAPSEC National Media
Collaborative (NMC)
The National Media Collaborative unites members and partners to strengthen public understanding of specialized education and adult services. The group elevates success stories, amplifies student and family voices, and supports advocacy by positioning providers as trusted experts.
Adult Services
Network (ASN)
The ASN connects members supporting adults with disabilities to exchange strategies, troubleshoot challenges, and share practical tools related to program design, staffing, outcomes, and community inclusion.
Residential Services
Collaborative (RSC)
Designed for leaders of residential programs, this group focuses on best practices related to compliance, workforce stability, quality improvement, person-centered approaches, and strengthening residential culture across service models.
Small Program Leaders
Circle (SPLC)
A peer network for leaders of smaller organizations navigating sustainability, staffing, compliance, fundraising, and operational capacity. The SPLC provides space to share real-world strategies for doing more with limited resources.
New Executive Leaders
Forum (NELF)
A supportive forum for newly appointed CEOs, Executive Directors, and senior leaders. This group focuses on leadership transitions, building effective teams, navigating board relationships, and setting strategic priorities during the early stages of executive leadership.
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