Dispute Resolution Systems
When disagreements occur or when you believe that the school is not meeting its legal obligations, there are various options available to resolve these disputes. Information about these options can be found on this webpage. It is usually to everyone’s advantage to try to resolve differences or correct any noncompliance concerns in the least adversarial manner and closest to the school level. This saves time, preserves relationships, and can result in better outcomes for the student as well as their family.
- Educational Advocates: A Guide for Parents (PDF)
- IDEA 2004 Website
- Notice of Procedural Safeguards for Parents of Students with Disabilities in English and 10 of the top languages in Florida
Facilitated IEP Meeting
- Facilitated IEP Video for Parents: This exciting video (available with English and Spanish subtitles) introduces the facilitated IEP process to parents in order to encourage IEP team resolution. Watch the video to learn more about this process and how you and your child’s IEP team can work together, in the best interest of your child, to resolve concerns or disagreements and move forward.
- Individualized Education Program (IEP) Facilitation A Guide for Parents of Children & Youth (PDF)
- Servicio de facilitación para el Programa Individualizado de Educación (IEP) Guía para padres de niños y adolescents (PDF)
- Facilitated IEP Fact Sheet (PDF)
- Facilitated IEP Fact Sheet - Spanish (PDF)
- Facilitated IEP Request Form (PDF)
- Facilitated IEP Request Form - Spanish (PDF)
- Facilitated IEP Meetings Trifold Brochure (PDF)
Mediation
- Mediation General Information (PDF)
- IDEA Special Education Mediation: A Guide for Parents of Children & Youth (PDF)
- Mediación de Educación Especial de IDEA Guía para padres de niños y adolescents (PDF)
- CADRE: Ten Tips for State Education Agencies and Lead Agencies to Improve Their Mediation Agreement Rate (PDF)
- Mediation Fact Sheet (PDF)
- Mediation Request Form (PDF)
- Mediation Form - Spanish (PDF)
- Mediation Request Form – French (PDF)
- Mediation Request Form – Haitian Creole (PDF)
- Mediation - Parents and School Districts Working Together Trifold Brochure (PDF)
State Complaints
- State Complaint General Information (PDF)
- IDEA Special Education Written State Complaints: A Guide for Parents of Children & Youth
- State Complaint Resources
- State Complaint Form (PDF)
- State Complaint Request Form - Non-fillable Form (PDF)
- State Complaint Form - Spanish (PDF)
- State Complaint Form - French (PDF)
- State Complaint Form - H. Creole (PDF)
Due Process Hearing Requests
- IDEA Special Education Due Process Complaints/Hearing Requests - Including Expedited Hearing Requests: A Guide for Parents of Children & Youth (PDF)
- Request for ESE Due Process Form (PDF)
- Request for ESE Due Process Form - Non-fillable Form (PDF)
- Due Process Hearing Orders (Redacted)
- Due Process Form 2020 - Spanish (PDF)
- Resolution Meeting Parent Guide (PDF)
- Guía Padres Reunión de Resolución (PDF)
- Guía Padres Proceso Debido (PDF)
- Due Process Form - French (PDF)
- Due Process Form - H. Creole (PDF)
Resources
- The Center for Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Special Education or CADRE is funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs. CADRE’s goal is to encourage the use of mediation, facilitation, and other collaborative processes as strategies for resolving disagreements between parents and schools about children's educational programs and support services. Information to assist families is available at the following link: https://www.cadreworks.org/for-families.
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How to file a complaint related to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) with the United States Department of Education: https://studentprivacy.ed.gov/file-a-complaint