ADMINISTRATIVE QUICK REFERENCE :

WHAT CAN I DO IF THE PARENT AND THE SCHOOL CAN’T REACH AGREEMENT IN THE CASE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE MEETING?

1. Recess the case conference committee meeting to allow participants to “cool off” and regroup.  Reconvene as soon as possible.
2. Before reconvening, talk with staff about the areas of disagreement.  What’s the basis for the school’s position?  Is there any compromise?  Are there other options?  Could someone else chair the case conference committee meeting?
3. Meet with the parent to discuss his/her concerns outside of the case conference committee.  Although most decisions about the student’s special education program are within the province of the case conference committee, having a better understanding of the parent’s concerns may allow you to better address the concerns within the case conference committee forum. 
4. Consider encouraging the parent to seek assistance from a parent advocate (such as the local IN*Source or IPIN representative).  Information on these two agencies can be found at http://www.insource.org/  and http://www.ipin.org/.
5. Talk with colleagues about how they might handle the situation.  Remember to maintain the student’s confidentiality!
6. Offer the parents the option of having a facilitated case conference committee meeting.  For information on how this works or available facilitators, contact Claire Thorsen.  http://www.indstate.edu/soe/blumberg/fiep/
7. Offer to formally mediate the areas of disagreement.  Mediation requires only your time and effort.  The Department of Education pays the mediator’s expenses.  The parent has the opportunity to help frame the questions for mediation and must consent to participate before the mediation can occur.  For the form to request mediation, go to http://doe.state.in.us/exceptional/speced/pdf/2006-11-02-ReqMediationForm.pdf
   
   See also http://www.directionservice.org/cadre/administrators.cfm

8. If the disagreement is over the results of an evaluation, consider offering to pay for an independent evaluation.  See Article 7 -- 511 IAC 7-25-5.  An independent evaluation is much less expensive than a due process hearing.  If the results support the parent’s position, the school may need to rethink what it’s proposing.  If the results support the school’s position, the parent may be dissuaded from his/her current position.