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.

Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, the Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services is encouraging individuals wishing to file a written complaint alleging that a public agency has violated state or federal requirements regarding the education of students with disabilities or students who are gifted to utilize the BEESScomplaints@fldoe.org email or call the office at 850-245-0475 if at all possible for the time being.

• ESE Directors and Complaint Resolution Contacts
• Educational Advocates: A Guide for Parents (PDF)
• USDOE OSEP’s Q&A on Dispute Resolution Procedures relating to Part B of IDEA and COVID-19 (PDF) - June 22, 2020
• USDOE OSEP’s Part B Procedural Safeguards in the COVID-19 Environment Q&A (PDF) - June 30, 2020
• 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 (PDF)
• IDEA Special Education Mediation: A Guide for Parents of Children & Youth​ (PDF)
• Mediation Fact Sheet (PDF)
• Mediation Request Form (PDF)
• Mediation Form - Spanish (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)
• State Complaint Form - Spanish (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)
• Due Process Form 2020 - Spanish (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.

• Parent Center Hub from the Center for Parent Information & Resources (CPIR) is funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs and they partner with The Statewide Parent Advocacy Network (SPAN) to provide information and resources to parents and families related federal law the education of students with disabilities. Information to assist families is available at the following link: https://www.parentcenterhub.org/

• Family Network on Disabilities (FND): a federally funded project to provide support for families of students with disabilities.  More information is available at the following location: https://fndusa.org/

• Communication Tips offered by other federally funded Parent Training and Information Centers:

  • Improving Communication: Tips for Parents and Educators (PDF)
  • Communication Matters (PDF)
  • Becoming Part of the Solution – Exploring Alternative Methods of Conflict Resolution (PDF)
  •  https://studentprivacy.ed.gov/file-a-complaint