Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Process
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Rialto Unified School District Special Services Area strives to meet the educational needs of each student with an Individualized Education Program (IEP). However, disagreements occasionally arise. When a disagreement does occur:
- The first step is to talk to your child's special education teacher or classroom teacher about your concerns.
- Next, discuss the issue with the site administrator and/or request an IEP meeting.
- If an IEP meeting does not bring a resolution, please contact the Special Services for additional assistance.
The Special Services Team strives to develop a collaborative partnership with families, caregivers, the community, teachers, staff, and support providers in order to support our students with disabilities in accessing their education with enrichment, focus and continuous growth.
Benefits of the ADR Process
- It's Satisfying and Collaborative - The ADR process gives an opportunity to come together confidential, open, and safe space where a collaborative relationship is encouraged and supported while working towards a mutually agreeable outcome.
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It's Effective - Facilitated communication, which each strategy offers, result in long-term resolutions with mutual satisfaction.
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It's Free to parents and caregivers who participate.
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It's Convenient - Sessions can be scheduled at a mutually convenient time and location to accommodate participants' schedules.
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It's Empowering - Parents and school personnel are able to develop student-focused solutions which take into account all perspectives.
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It's Confidential - Statements made during the Collaborative Conference and documents prepared for the sessions are confidential and are not made available under any circumstances without the expressed written consent of all participants.
How to Request Assistance?
Click here to submit a request - ADR Support Request
Depending on the circumstances of the dispute, one of the following ADR strategies may be recommended.
Expand the accordions below to learn more about each strategy.
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Special Services Support Session
A Special Services Support Session are designated office hours for those important and meaningful situations when a member of the IEP team needs a thought partner.
The requesting individual is connected with a trained facilitator for a confidential, one-on-one conversation.
Topics can include how to word an email, responding to a hostile team member, whether or not a Facilitated IEP or Collaborative Conference might be helpful, or any other number of topics that are best solved individually.
The goal is to help improve communication between families and the school district, and shape constructive communications moving forward, should differences arise again.
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Facilitated IEP Meeting
A Facilitated IEP is for IEP teams that are having a hard time reaching agreement on the student's IEP. A trained facilitator will lead the team through the agenda for the IEP, ensuring that all concerns are heard and noted. The goal of the Facilitated IEP is to help the IEP team reach an agreement that the family is willing to consent to, in order for the IEP to be implemented to support the student.
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Family Collaborative Conference
A Collaborative Conference is a two-hour, confidential, resolution session for disputes related to a student's special education support. This could be the student's IEP, communications between team members, or other support matters.
A trained facilitator leads the group through the conference, emphasizing a balancing of power differentials, and ensuring that each participant has an opportunity to be heard.
Parents, support persons, and school district personnel with the greatest understanding of the child’s situation attend the Collaborative Conference with the goal of creating a positive, peaceable approach to finding student-centered resolutions.
If any agreements are made during the Collaborative Conference, a "Collaborative Agreement" is drafted, and signed by both the student's parents and the ADR Program Administrator.
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Formal ADR
Formal ADR Sessions are recommended when a Facilitated IEP meeting or Collaborative Conference were not successful in resolving all the participants concerns.
