SEAT is joint initiative of The Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, Inc. (COPAA) and The Center for Disability Studies and Community Inclusion at the University of Southern California University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities. SEAT develops a national training curriculum under an Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) Research and Innovation Model Development Grant. The goal of SEAT is to create a standardized training curriculum and materials, and develop guidelines and protocols for class instruction. Trainees are required to complete and pass the exams for approximately 115 hours of coursework as well as a six-month practicum (internship) with an experienced special education attorney or advocate. Melissa completed the practicum under the guidance of Catherine Merino Reisman while she was at Montgomery McCracken Walker and Rhoads. COPAA co-manages the project with the Southern California University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities which is specifically responsible for the oversight of the training program in Pennsylvania and New York, assists in the development of the special education advocacy training curriculum and internships, and closely coordinates its activities with the California project and staff activities at the USC UCEDD. The aim is to determine quality assurance regarding training special education advocates. The training covered in depth exploration of IDEA, Section 504, IFSP, IEP and ISPs.