Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

Alternative Dispute

Resolution (ADR)

Parents concerned about their child’s education are encouraged to contact their teacher, school principal, or LEA special education administrator to discuss their concerns. The informal conversation often resolves the problem and helps maintain open and positive communication.

Disagreement is typical and a natural part of life; however, it is how it is approached and dealt with that determines everyone’s level of comfort with decisions made. Because communication is so crucial in developing a child’s educational program, the Tuolumne County SELPA has embraced the concept of Alternative Dispute Resolution and has become one of many SELPAs in California to begin using its principles to attempt to resolve the conflict before moving to more formal levels.

What is Alternative

Dispute Resolution?

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) is a no-cost process for resolving conflicts, one that respects the dignity of individuals while creating mutually satisfying solutions. ADR Resolves disagreements and conflicts by focusing on communication, collaboration, negotiation, and mediation to achieve agreements that meet the interests of all the parties involved. ADR provides various options for districts and families seeking to work for resolution at the local level; your first level of contact for starting this process is your district’s site principal or district superintendent. If there are still concerns, the SELPA ADR Coordinator* can be contacted to facilitate finding the option that best fits the need at the time.

Local ADR

Options

Collaborative IEP Process

Many districts have administrators and teachers trained in the Collaborative IEP Process – this is a very structured, clear process where agreement is reached at each point in the IEP before moving on. Often parents and districts find they agree on many more things than they disagree on and can build on those areas to reach a compromise.

Expert Teams/SELPA ADR Coordinator

There are professionals throughout Tuolumne County SELPA who have been deemed experts in their field of practice. If a parent/district is having challenges and wishes a team to come in and review the assessments/IEPs/concerns and offer their opinions, that is possible. The Parent or District Representative may contact the SELPA Intake Coordinator* to coordinate that effort on the part of the requesting party. The Coordinator follows up to ensure that the Team assists in the process.

Facilitated IEP

The Local Intake Coordinator can help locate a trained IEP Facilitator to help an IEP team build and improve relationships among team members by using pre-meeting preparation and follow-up tasks. This Facilitator is a neutral party that clarifies the agenda and meeting outcomes, enforces working agreements, keeps the group focused on the IEP process, encourages problem-solving, monitors time, and encourages participation by all team members. The goal is to achieve a signed IEP that all team members feel represents all the issues needed to educate that student.

Local Resolution-Mediation Sessions

Parents and districts will participate in no-cost, impartial local mediation when desired. Local mediation uses an effective problem-solving method through a Mediator who will discuss possible solutions and develop mutually acceptable agreements for both parties. It is a safe, low-pressure process. The final agreements will be committed to writing in a facilitated or collaborative IEP.