The role of artificial intelligence expert systems in administrative issues in special education is examined. Mandate Consultant (MC) is one such system designed to provide a second opinion on the consistency of school officials' actions in implementing the Individualized Education Program team process. MC employs rules based on the Education For All Handicapped Children Act. Examples of a typical MC consultation illustrate how rules are used to determine which questions to ask and which conclusion to infer. The ways in which MC uses backchaining to determine if rules succeed or fail are explained and examples cited. Outcomes of the consultation are noted, as are additional features such as the opportunity to query the program at any point in the consultation regarding its immediate conclusions. (CL)