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.
- ESE Directors and Complaint Resolution Contacts
- Educational Advocates: A Guide for Parents (PDF)
- USDOE OSEP’s Supplemental Fact Sheet Addressing the Risk of COVID-19 in Preschool, Elementary and Secondary Schools While Serving Children with Disabilities
Dispute Resolution
- Dispute Resolution at a Glance (Word)
- IDEA 2004 Website
- Notice of Procedural Safeguards for Parents of Students with Disabilities in English and 10 of the top languages in Florida Revised 05/2014
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.
- Facilitated IEP Meetings: An Emerging Practice
- Facilitated IEP Fact Sheet (PDF)
- Facilitated IEP Fact Sheet - Spanish (PDF)
- Facilitated IEP Request Form (PDF)
- Facilitated IEP Request Form - Spanish (PDF)
- Facilitated IEP Team Agreement (PDF)
Mediation
- Mediation General Information (Word)
- IDEA Special Education Mediation: A Guide for Parents of Children & Youth (PDF)
- Mediation Fact Sheet (PDF)
- Mediation Request Form (PDF)
- Confidentiality Statement (PDF)
State Complaints
- State Complaint General Information (Word)
- IDEA Special Education Written State Complaints: A Guide for Parents of Children & Youth
- Frequently Asked Questions (Word)
- State Complaint Form (PDF)
- State Complaint Request Form - Non-fillable Form (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 Filing Checklist (PDF)
- Report of Due Process Resolution Session (PDF)
- Due Process Hearing Orders (Redacted)