Special Education

State Complaint

The State Complaint falls under the State’s general supervisory authority and is a process through which members of the community can alert the state education agency (SEA) of potential noncompliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in the public schools. The SEA is only authorized to investigate those allegations pertinent to special education procedures as referenced in the IDEA, its implementing regulations, the Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S.), and Title 7 of the Arizona Administrative Code (A.A.C.).

Due Process

Due Process is the most formal of the dispute resolution options and may be used to resolve any matter relating to the identification, evaluation, or placement of a child, or the provision of a free appropriate public education (FAPE) to the child. A due process complaint can be filed by a parent, the school, or a student who has reached the age of majority (18 in Arizona).

Due Process Procedures

Due Process Procedures

Mediation

Mediation is a no-cost, voluntary, problem-solving process rather than an adversarial process that allows parents and schools to communicate directly with each other as they work with a trained mediator toward a mutually agreeable solution. A parent of a student with a disability or a public education agency may request mediation to resolve disputes involving any matter that arises under the IDEA or its implementing regulations (identification, evaluation, placement of a child, or the provision of a free appropriate public education).

Contact Dispute Resolution

For general information, email the Dispute Resolution Coordinator or call 602-542-3084.

 

For Facilitated IEP, email the Alternative Dispute Resolution Specialist or call 602-542-7579. 

 

For more information about special education, visit the ESS homepage.

 

Jeff Studer  |  Director of Dispute Resolution

Welcome to Dispute Resolution

Although the spirit of the federal special education regulations is that parents and schools will arrive at a consensus, sometimes conflict arises. The Office of Dispute Resolution, a unit under Exceptional Student Services (ESS), offers several options for parents and schools to address and resolve these special education conflicts: Facilitated IEP; mediation; a state administrative complaint system through which ADE can investigate alleged procedural violations of the IDEA; and a due process hearing system.