WATCH NOW - CSLI Information Webinar
Recorded April 15, 2026
Indiana’s schools are at a pivotal moment. Students with disabilities deserve inclusive, high-quality learning experiences—and administrators are the key to making that vision a reality. The CELL School Leadership Initiative (CSLI) equips school leaders with the skills, confidence, and support needed to lead inclusive systems that improve outcomes for all students.
What You’ll Gain
- Confidence in inclusive leadership decisions
- Clear frameworks for action for technical and adaptive leadership
- Shared responsibility across staff
- Stronger school culture and student outcomes
- Professional growth and credibility
What Makes CSLI Different
- Job-embedded learning
- Personalized support from experienced Indiana educators
- Designed for systems change, not awareness alone
CSLI offers three different opportunities to grow school leaders’ experience in special education and inclusive practices.
CSLI Cohort
Begins June 2026!
A two-year, job-embedded leadership initiative, building administrators learn to align general and special education, implement evidence-based practices with fidelity, and reduce confusion and conflict around special education.
- Individual consultation and support for your school context
- Built for sustainable systems change—not one-time training
- Includes $5000 personal stipend for the two-year engagement in a supportive cohort setting
- Earns over 90 professional growth points for building administrator license renewal
A full list of the open response application questions can be found HERE and you are encouraged to view them and draft your answers in a Word or Google Document before copying and pasting into the application. We estimate it will take 60-90 minutes to thoughtfully complete this application (application submission deadline is April 22, 2026).
Schedule for CSLI Cohort Members (each session is a full day):
Date | Modality | Activity |
| June 1, 2026 (3-4:30 pm ET) | Online | 90 minute Orientation Session |
| July 16, 2026 | Online (updated as of 4/2/26) | Learning Session 1 |
| August 2026 | ----- | No Session |
| September 17, 2026 | Online | Learning Session 2 |
| October 22, 2026 | Online | Learning Session 3 |
| November 2026 | In-Person (Location TBD) | Learning Session 4 |
| December 2026 | ----- | No Session |
| January 14, 2027 | Online | Learning Session 5 |
| February 18, 2027 | Online | Learning Session 6 |
| March 2027 | ----- | No Session |
| April 8, 2027 | Online | Learning Session 7 |
| May 2027 | Online | Individual Check-Ins |
| June 2027 | In-Person (Bloomington, IN) | Learning Session 8 |
CSLI Cohort members can expect to have about 2 hours of related work a week to support their engagement and growth.
Year 2 (2027-2028) will be implementation of an action plan in your school building with 1:1 support from CSLI faculty, and no monthly learning sessions.
Begins August 2026!
This pairs an aspiring leader in special education with their building administrator for a yearlong program to strengthen their school's capacity to lead for unified systems.
- Support for coordinating work in your specific school context through ICASE successful ASELI program
- Includes $3000 stipend for the year’s work in a collaborative setting
- Earns over 90 professional growth points for building administrator license renewal
(application deadline is April 15, 2026)
Special Education Coursework for Director Licensure
Begins September 2026!
Participants already enrolled in the MS.Ed. in Principal Leadership at IUB or IUI can join the Special Education Director's program with tuition paid for.
- Build district’s capacity for leadership in special education
- Encourages a deeper pool of special education leaders around the state
Each CSLI pathway is designed to address a distinct leadership need—from building-level systems change, to developing internal special education leadership capacity, to strengthening the statewide pipeline of special education leaders.
Apply here to the CSLI Cohort
Apply here for ASELI Partnership
This is your opportunity to lead with clarity, confidence, and impact—while strengthening your school culture and improving outcomes for students with disabilities.
👉 Apply now to join the next CSLI cohort and help shape the future of inclusive education in Indiana.
Questions?
CELL School Leadership Initiative (CSLI) is an Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) SPDG Grant Funded Initiative through the Indiana Department of Education, Office of Special Education.
