Dispute Resolution

A core component of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which is the federal law guaranteeing a free appropriate public education to students with disabilities, is parental participation. Parents have the right to review their child’s records, to attend and participate in meetings, to receive written notice of decisions made by the school district, and to have disputes resolved. However, disputes between parents and school personnel may arise about many aspects of a child’s special education services, such as whether the child is eligible for services, what type and level of services a child needs, whether a child has made reasonable progress, whether a child is placed in the least restrictive setting, or whether a child’s misbehavior is a symptom of his or her ...