While the State Education Agency is responsible for providing mediation services, the process ultimately depends on the participation of administrators and parents in order to be successful. This resource describes the advantages and disadvantages of mediation from an administrator's perspective. The goal is to help other administrators make…

Every British Columbia (BC) school district has been mandated and funded to initiate attendance management programs. Three "advisory" and seven "pilot" school districts have been announced. While the issue is evolving, this paper provides some background, research, and details about the current proposals for attendance…

Individual Education Program (IEP) teams are composed of diverse individuals, each bringing a unique set of experiences, knowledge, and skills to the table. Given this, it is not uncommon for team members to have different views on the special education and related services needs of the student whose plan is being developed. When divergent views…

Careful adherence to both the letter and the spirit of the contract usually results in the successful handling of teacher grievances and the development of good employee relations throughout the school system. (Author/IRT)

Briefly describes types of binding arbitration that various states have adopted as a means of preventing teacher strikes. (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 Rhode Island legislature seems satisfied that the parties to grievance arbitration should be bound by an arbitrator's decision as long as the arbitrator has acted within statutory bounds. Available from Suffolk University Law Review Office, 41 Temple Street, Boston, MA 02114; $3.50 per issue. (Author/IRT)

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…

While it serves to resolve bargaining impasses, the question remains whether the price we pay for resolution by arbitration is higher than is justified. This is especially true in light of the availability of other impasse resolution techniques, most notably the strike option. (Author/IRT)

Argues that binding arbitration undermines the authority of public employers and that school boards should institute due process and the termination of striking teachers under applicable state law in those states in which teacher strikes are illegal. Journal availiability: see EA 511 612. (IRT)

The review of grievance arbitration awards in public education constitutes the topic of this second chapter in a book on school law. A discussion of landmark cases outside of education underscores the general principles that have motivated courts to undertake review of arbitration awards. Supreme Court decisions in three cases known as the…

Reviews three Massachusetts court cases involving nontenured teachers that helped delineate the scope of an arbitrator's authority. (Author/IRT)

Describes the process for hearing complaints filed under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. For related articles, see pages 21 and 22 in the same issue. (WD)