The handbook is designed to clarify Pennsylvania and federal requirements regarding the role of the hearing officer in due process procedures for handicapped and gifted students. The statutory and regulatory bases for hearing officers' responsibility are cited in an initial section. The following topics are then addressed (sample subtopics in parentheses): general guidelines for a due process hearing (questions of state law); preevaluation hearings; hearings about past evaluations; individualized education program hearings; program placement hearings; hearings for children below school age; administrative res judicata; the decision and recommendations (least restrictive environment, trial placement, placement in other than public school program); evidence and testimony (burden of proof, medical evidence); suggested format for hearing officer decision; mailing the decision; implementing the decision; appeal procedures; and show cause hearings (approved private school status). Six appendixes include sample cover letters and sequence of events charts. Extensive reference documents include a directory of approved private schools and state special education regulations. (CL)