Definition: Impartial Hearing Officer - An IHO is an expert in administrative law who presides over special education due process hearings. Due process hearings are an administrative remedy available to parents of children with disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
Impartial Hearing Officers:
- may be attorneys or educators with advanced legal training;
- must have no conflict of interest in resolving hearing issues;
Also Known As: administrative law judge
Examples:
The impartial hearing officer is required to disclose any associations he or she has with either party in a hearing. In cases where there is reasonable doubt that an IHO could be impartial, he or she is replaced with a different IHO. Sometimes IHOs recuse themselves if they believe they cannot be objective and even if they are concerned about the mere appearance of impropriety.Back to Special Education and Learning Disability Terms
