Special education, for students ages 3 to 21, is guided by federal and state requirements. The federal requirements are referred to as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The state requirements are referred to as the Ohio Operating Standards for the Education of Children with Disabilities (Ohio Operating Standards). IDEA…

This booklet has been developed in hopes that it may aid in keeping communication open and focused between families and schools. Building communication between parents and the school staff through letters offers a way of keeping records of ideas, concerns, and suggestions. This booklet provides general guidelines to writing letters as well as…

Special education, for students ages 3 to 21, is guided by federal and state requirements. The federal requirements are referred to as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). IDEA protects the rights of students with disabilities and the rights of their parents. The state requirements are referred to as the Ohio Operating Standards…

This booklet has been developed in hopes that it may aid in keeping communication open and focused between families and schools. Building communication between parents and the school staff through letters offers a way of keeping records of ideas, concerns, and suggestions. This booklet provides general guidelines to writing letters as well as…

Authorizers must decide whether a proposed school should be allowed to open and whether it should be required to close. To enable authorizers to serve as quality gatekeepers for the sector, state policy must give authorizers clear power to deny low-quality charter school applications and to close charter schools that fail to meet expectations. At…

Argues the importance of thorough preparation for arbitration hearings and provides some guidelines for conducting such preparation. (IRT)

Discusses the central issues in arbitration arising from employee grievances. Stresses the differences between arbitration and courtroom trials, including selection of the judge by the parties involved and narrow scope of review. Concentrates on tactics for management. Available from American Law Institute-American Bar Association Committee on…

This discussion of potential uses of mediation as a management and communication tool focuses on the library setting. The nature of conflict is considered, and the concept, basic principles, and applications of mediation as a form of conflict resolution are presented. The four steps in the mediation process are then described: (1) Introduction,…

This booklet explains some of the basic characteristics and functions of third-party consultations, a problem-solving model in which community intergroup conflicts are resolved with the assistance of a third party in a face-to-face interchange and problem-solving process. The guide, intended for use by consultants, is divided into eight sections.…

These two brief papers provide guidelines for consumers, parents, and advocates in the techniques of negotiation and whistleblowing ("speaking out against illegal, immoral, and otherwise wrong practices in human services, government, and other organizational settings"). Steps for preparing to negotiate with opposing groups involve proper…

Provides a procedure for resolution of agreement impasses that attempts to make collective bargaining the important ingredient of the industrial relations pattern in the public sector. Includes an analysis of and a rationale for each step in the procedure. (Author/IRT)

Advocates at grievance arbitrations should know the requirements for challenging arbitrator jurisdiction, especially timeliness; should know the procedural safeguards in the contract that must be followed in order to sustain discipline; should know the theory of the case; and should realize that techniques of presentation may be important.…

The article offers practical thoughts on mediation to school systems involved in disagreements related to implementation of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act. The authors recommend training programs for mediators as well as for participants in mediation sessions, individualized education program meetings, placement meetings, and due…

This article proposes and discusses improvements in due process procedures based on two sources: empirical findings in the education literature and importable practices from labor arbitration and civil adjudication. (Author/CL)

The paper examines the issues and process involved in mediation of special education disputes. Mediation is an informal, optional procedure that may save time, money, and emotional strain for both staff and parents. Issues should not be mediated if there is no willingness to accept the mediation decision. Mediation should begin after all efforts…