A grievance is a complaint by an employee of an alleged violation of any of the terms and conditions of an agreement between an employer and its employees. It must be in writing, use a particular form, and be processed in accordance with a specific procedure. A grievance procedure should be kept as simple as possible, include provision for adequate time to investigate the grievance prior to answering, and place a time limitation on appealing from one step to the next. Some States have a statutory requirement as to the number of steps in grievance procedures. The steps should be directed to (1) the first line supervisor, (2) the next higher level of supervisor--usually at the level of building principal, (3) the school district chief executive officer, and finally (4) the board of education. Arbitration limited to the interpretation or application of the agreement is acceptable if a grievance definition has been carefully drawn as to what is properly grievable. (Author/JF)