Brandywine Special Needs PTA

1
Conflict Resolution Options in Special Education

• Brandywine Special Needs PTA
• February 13, 2008

Fran Fletcher, Conflict Resolution Program,
University of Delaware
2
Conflict Resolution PathExternal
3
Delaware Department of Education

• SPARC
• Special Education Partnership for the Amicable
  Resolution of Conflict
• University of Delaware

IEP Meeting Facilitation
Non-Due Process Mediation
Due Process Mediation
4
What Do Both Processes Have in Common?

• A Neutral 3rd Party

5
IEP Meeting Facilitation

• Overview

6
IEP Meeting Facilitation

• Advantages
• Keeps the team intact
• Process examples
• Balances

• Disadvantages
• May take longer
• Perceptions
• Dependence

7
Sustained IEP
8
Mediation

• Overview

Non-Due Process
Due Process
9
Mediation

• Advantages
• Less people
• Get clear on issue/s
• Collaboration building
• Its legally binding

• Disadvantages
• May not change result
• Not entire team
• Not IEP meeting

10
But Which One, When?

• Non-Due Process Mediation

• IEP Meeting
• Facilitation

11
Requesting Services

• Referrals
• Self
• Parent
• School/District
• Advocacy Groups
• Other
• Must have authorization from DDOE

12
DE Department of Education

• Exceptional Children Early Childhood Education
• 302-735-4210
• John G. Townsend Building
• 401 Federal Street, Suite 2
• Dover, DE 19901
• Fax [phone]
• www.doe.k12.us

13
Difference between climbing a hill
Think its too late to ask for a third party
neutral?
or climbing a mountain
14
Thank You
Fran Fletcher Assistant Policy Scientist Conflict
Resolution Program Institute for Public
Administration University of Delaware 177 Graham
Hall Newark, DE 19716

• franf_at_udel.edu

302-831-6812
www.ipa.udel.edu/crp