Georgia Learning Resources System

Fireside Chats

Explore our diverse line-up of Fireside Chats scheduled throughout the school year. All Fireside Chats are completely virtual, ranging from 1-2 hours, and each focus area is specifically designed with topics to build upon one another as the school year continues. Join us for engaging discussions and professional growth opportunities. Visit our Professional Learning Registration Page for details to RSVP today!

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Focus Areas

Providing training and resources to school district personnel, parents of students with disabilities, and other interested individuals to support the achievement, graduation rate, and post-secondary success of students with disabilities.

SERVICES

East Central GLRS meets the state identified priorities and regionally identified priorities based on local school district data and through a local needs assessment process. This model of service provides a uniform set of universal priorities to all districts and schools across the state while giving the East Central GLRS region the flexibility to meet the needs and priorities of our specific school systems.

GLRS Services

Professional Learning Registration

East Central GLRS provides professional learning and technical assistance based on state identified and regionally identified priorities.

Resources

East Central GLRS provides resources to administrators, teachers, and parents of students with disabilities on topics relating to educating students with disabilities. The information, resources, and links provided are directly related to the state and regionally identified priorities of East Central GLRS and are subject to change.

Special Education Resources

ABOUT US

The Georgia Learning Resources System (GLRS) is a network of 18 regional programs that provide training and resources to school district personnel, parents of students with disabilities, and other interested individuals to support the achievement, graduation rate, and post-secondary success of students with disabilities. The programs are funded by the Georgia Department of Education, Divisions for Special Education Services and Supports, and are operated in collaboration with Regional Educational Service Agencies and local school districts that serve as fiscal agents for the programs. GLRS programs are funded entirely with federal discretionary funds made available through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA).

Upcoming Events

Thu, Aug 27
Leveraging the GaDOE Mathematics Learning Plans to Strengthen Instruction
RSVP
Aug 27, 2026, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Heart of GA RESA, 717 Smith St, Dublin, GA 31021, USA
Strengthen instruction through purposeful planning, co-teaching, meaningful tasks, formative assessment, and the effective implementation of GaDOE Mathematics Learning Plans
Tue, Sep 01
Special Education Paraprofessional Institute - Understanding Disabilities and Legal Requirements of IDEA
RSVP
Sep 01, 2026, 9:00 AM – Sep 02, 2026, 3:00 PM
Heart of Georgia RESA, 717 Smith St, Dublin, GA 31021, USA
This workshop aims to equip participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively implement the requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in educational settings.
Thu, Sep 03
Teachers of Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities Consortium- Building the Classroom System
RSVP
Sep 03, 2026, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Heart of Georgia RESA, 717 Smith St, Dublin, GA 31021, USA
Today's hands-on consortium will provide teachers with instructional strategies and materials to immediately take back to the classroom and use.
Wed, Sep 09
LEXIA LETRS For Special Education Teachers
RSVP
Sep 09, 2026, 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Middle Georgia RESA, 80 Cohen Walker Dr, Warner Robins, GA 31088, USA
This LETRS cohort is for special educators and meets 4 times throughout the year. Beginning date: September 9, 2026. See the description for additional dates and the downloadable flyer.
Fri, Sep 11
Special Education Preschool Teachers' Consortium
RSVP
Sep 11, 2026, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Face-to-Face, 206 S Main St, Tennille, GA 31089, USA
The Special Education Preschool Consortium will be held at Oconee RESA!
Fri, Sep 11
School Psychologists' Consortium- EBD and Autism Eligibility Calibration, FBA/BIP
RSVP
Sep 11, 2026, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Heart of Georgia RESA, 717 Smith St, Dublin, GA 31021, USA
This consortium will provide participants with a network in which school psychologists across the Heart of Georgia region can develop and enhance their skills in the broad areas of school psychology practices to facilitate positive outcomes for children.
Mon, Sep 14
Assistive Technology: Fireside Chat Series- "Finding the Barrier"
RSVP
Sep 14, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM EDT
Zoom Meeting
Join us for a collaborative conversation focused on using tools and supports to improve student access, participation, communication, and independence.
Tue, Sep 15
Check & Connect Preparation & Implementation Training
RSVP
Sep 15, 2026, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM EDT
Heart of Georgia RESA, 717 Smith St, Dublin, GA 31021, USA
Required before mentor training. Preparation & Implementation (P&I) training is designed for: Administrators and/or leadership teams interested in exploring and/or preparing to implement Check & Connect®. Those assigned to create their site's Check & Connect® implementation plan.
Wed, Sep 16
Heart of Georgia Special Education Director Collaborative Community Meeting
RSVP
Sep 16, 2026, 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM EDT
Blended Format~ Face to Face and Virtual
To ensure districts and special education directors in the region have professional learning and technical assistance to support collaboration.
Fri, Sep 18
SLP Consortium- Caseload Management
RSVP
Sep 18, 2026, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Heart of Georgia RESA (Regional Educatio, 717 Smith St, Dublin, GA 31021, USA
Mon, Sep 21
Small Steps, Big Outcomes: Preschool Training Plan
RSVP
Sep 21, 2026, 8:30 AM – 2:30 PM
Heart of Georgia RESA, 717 Smith St, Dublin, GA 31021, USA
Participants will examine how children communicate, learn, and meet needs across everyday settings. Through age-anchoring practice, team calibration, and case-based planning, participants will connect accurate outcomes decisions to functional IEP goals and embedded instruction.
Multiple Dates
Mon, Sep 21
Visual Impairment Chat Series Beyond Sight: Practical Strategies for Access and Independence
RSVP
Sep 21, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM EDT
Zoom Meeting
The Visual Impairment Fireside Chat Series is a yearlong virtual learning opportunity designed for educators and support personnel working with students who are blind or visually impaired.
Wed, Sep 23
OT/PT: Fireside Chat Series- "Academic Relevance"
RSVP
Sep 23, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM EDT
Zoom Meeting
These sessions emphasize how these "related services" under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) support a student's educational goals.
Thu, Sep 24
Collaborative Mathematics Instruction Through Discourse and Purposeful Teacher Moves
RSVP
Sep 24, 2026, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Heart of GA RESA, 717 Smith St, Dublin, GA 31021, USA
Explore purposeful teacher moves, rich mathematical discourse, productive struggle, and collaborative learning aligned to Georgia's K-12 Mathematics Instructional Framework.
Tue, Sep 29
Heart of Georgia Transition Consortium-"Transition Across the School Journey"
RSVP
Sep 29, 2026, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM EDT
Blended Format~ In Person and Virtual
Students with disabilities need a supportive team during their transition to adulthood. This consortium enables collaboration to help them succeed. Teachers, administrators, agency personnel, and parents are welcome to attend. See below for dates and topics.
Tue, Oct 06
Facilitated IEP Training with Key2Ed
RSVP
Oct 06, 2026, 8:30 AM – Oct 07, 2026, 3:30 PM
Heart of GA RESA, 717 Smith St, Dublin, GA 31021, USA
During this 2-Day (12 hour) workshop, Key2Ed provides intensive training in conﬂict prevention and IEP Meeting Facilitation for school districts throughout the country.
Thu, Oct 22
K-5 Number Talks and Other number Sense Routines
RSVP
Oct 22, 2026, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Heart of GA RESA, 717 Smith St, Dublin, GA 31021, USA
Explore Number Talks, foundational numeracy routines, and instructional strategies that build flexible thinking, computational fluency, and mathematical discourse.
Fri, Oct 23
uPAR & Read&Write Regional Training
RSVP
Oct 23, 2026, 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM
Dublin, 717 Smith St, Dublin, GA 31021, USA
Learn how uPAR and Read&Write work together to identify reading barriers, select appropriate accommodations, and help students access digital content more independently.