Resolving a Special Education Grievance with School

School bells are ringing, and so is my phone! Parents are calling with questions ranging from assessment to zero-tolerance policies. Some have complaints spilling over from the previous school year, and others are finding new problems as their children move into new classrooms and transition from preschool into kindergarten programs. Fortunately, most problems can be resolved by working with your child's teacher, principal, or special education director.

For more complicated problems, parents may want to consider requesting mediation to resolve disputes. While serious disagreements are not the norm, if you're in the middle of one and getting no cooperation, you may need a more comprehensive grievance resolution such as a formal complaint. Before you write that letter, though, check out these things you need to know before you file.

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