Individual Education Program (IEP) teams are composed of diverse individuals, each bringing a unique set of experiences, knowledge, and skills to the table. Given this, it is not uncommon for team members to have different views on the special education and related services needs of the student whose plan is being developed. When divergent views…

Understanding how labels and prior training affect teachers of students with a disability is a step toward creating effective educational environments. Two goals of the present study were to examine how teacher training (special education vs. general education training) and labeling of students (either as having attention deficit hyperactivity…

This survey of 50 states and 3 of 10 non-state U.S. jurisdictions concerning state due process procedures focuses mainly on the use of mediation as a form of dispute resolution that offers an alternative to due process hearings in special education. A background section discusses the definition of mediation and the mediation process. Survey…

This resource manual presents information on mediation practices in special education disagreements between the school and parents. The manual provides an overview of requirements in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and gives definitions for alternative dispute resolution processes, such as arbitration and litigation. A chart…

This document is intended to assist states in implementing the mediation requirements in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), as amended in 1997. These provisions include parent participation in collaborative decision-making and the right of parents to challenge decisions about their child's education program. Increased use of…

This report explores the fiscal implications of providing procedural safeguards in special education and is part of the Special Education Expenditure Project (SEEP), a national study utilizing 23 different surveys to collect data at the state, district, and school levels for the 1999-2000 school year. Highlighted findings address: (1) total…

The "Self-Determination Knowledge Scale" (SDKS) Form A and Form B are designed as a pretest and posttest for the "Steps to Self-Determination" curriculum. The program is meant to assist students, with and without disabilities, to learn more about themselves and develop skills to achieve their goals, get support from family and friends, and learn…

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) of 2004 established a requirement that all States develop and submit to the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) a performance plan designed to advance the State from its current level of compliance with the statutory and regulatory requirements of the law…

This study examined the effectiveness of mediation (in comparison with due process hearings) in resolving disputes between parents of children with disabilities and school districts. Respondents (from 10 states) included 35 parents who had taken part in a mediation procedure only; 29 in a mediation procedure prior to a due process hearing; and 18…

This report summarizes responses to a national survey of state education agencies (SEAs) concerning their complaint management procedures. Twenty-two states responded. Responses are summarized for each state to questions which addressed the following concerns: (1) the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) personnel responsible for implementing the…

The overall purpose of this Report is to present the findings of the "National Dispute Resolution Use and Effectiveness Study" conducted by the National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE), under subcontract with Consortium for Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Special Education (CADRE), regarding the use and…

This manual presents the trainee's workbook and the trainer's guidelines for the first of six modules in a teacher inservice series developed to promote the unified effort of both regular and special education personnel in understanding and applying nationally recognized practices to implement fully inclusive education for students with diverse…