Requesting Mediation

When would I make a request for mediation?

Anytime you have a serious disagreement with the school and you feel it isn't getting resolved, you may request mediation. In mediation, you and school personnel sit down with an impartial third person (called a mediator), talk openly about the areas where you disagree, and try to reach an agreement. Mediation is voluntary, though, and both parties must agree to meet with a mediator. There are benefits to mediation, both for you and for the school. One of the chief benefits is that mediation allows you and the school to state your concerns and work together to reach a solution that focuses on the needs of the student and is acceptable to both of you.

A booklet on mediation is available from CADRE, the Consortium for Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Special Education. You can contact CADRE at (541) 686-5060 for the booklet, or download it from their Web site at: www.directionservice.org/cadre. You may also want to get information on mediation from your PTI.

Sample Letter 8: Requesting Mediation

Today's Date (include month, day, and year)

Your Name
Street Address
City, State, Zip Code
Daytime telephone number

Name of Person to Whom You Are Writing
Title
Street Address
City, State, Zip Code

Dear (name),

My son/daughter, (child's name), currently attends (name of school) and is in the (___) grade in (teacher's name) class. I am writing to inform you that the school and I are in disagreement concerning (BRIEFLY state what the disagreement is about). We have been unsuccessful in resolving this dispute, and I am requesting mediation so that we may resolve our differences.

I would like the mediation to be done as soon as possible. Please let me know when this can be arranged and send me a copy of the school's guidelines on mediation. My daytime telephone number is (give your phone number). Thank you for your assistance in this matter.

Sincerely yours,

Your name

cc: your child's principal
your child's teacher

Always keep a copy of your letter for your own files.

This is a sample letter excerpted from NICHCY's (National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities) Parent Guide: Communicating with Your Child's School through Letter Writing.

If you need help writing a letter to your child's school, please contact your Texas Parent Training and Information Center (PTI) and your PATH, PEN, or TEAM Regional Coordinator. Don't know which PTI or Regional Coordinator covers your region? Check the Texas PTI Map or contact us at 1-800-866-4726.