Special Education Law is an unusual practice field with respect to the breadth of specialized dispute resolution processes used to resolve issues. This panel will focus on the effectiveness of some of these processes and whether the processes could benefit from the application of dispute systems design principles.
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (“IDEA”) is a process-driven statute that permits parents to file due process complaints using a state administrative process when they are dissatisfied with school district efforts to implement their child’s educational plan. Before those claims can be heard, however, the IDEA requires parents to participate in a resolution meeting or mediation. This panel will explore the use of mediation (in its many formulations) as well as the federally mandated resolution meetings and explore how use of mediation and other processes vary on a state-by-state basis. This panel will consider the benefits and drawbacks of various dispute resolution procedures and consider what best practices in dispute resolution in special education might look like.
Business meeting at program conclusion.