Conciliation Conference

NOTE: Districts and parents are encouraged to resolve disputes about any matter related to special education through mediation. See the Help Sheet for Mediation in this section for details.

When a conciliation conference is being considered, the IEP Manager must work with the building principal as well as notify the special education administrator responsible for the school or program.

A parent must have the opportunity for at least one conciliation conference within 14 calendar days after receipt of a notice if:

(1)  The parent refuses to provide prior written consent for initial evaluation or initial placement.
(2)  The parent objects in writing to any proposal.
(3)  The district refuses to make a change(s).
(4)  The parent requests a conciliation conference.

Conditions of a conciliation conference:

(1)  Participation of the parent and district representatives, which may not include the entire IEP team.
(2)  Must be held within 10 calendar days from the district’s receipt of the parent’s agreement to participate.
(3)  Must be held at a time and place mutually convenient to the parent and school district representatives.
(4)  Must not be used to unilaterally delay or deny a parent’s right to a hearing.
(5)  All discussion involving or concerning the contents of a conciliation conference must remain confidential and must not be permitted as evidence in a due process hearing.

Results of a conciliation conference(s):

Within 7 calendar days after the final conciliation conference, the district must provide the parent with a proposed IEP resulting from the conciliation conference and send a Notice of Proposed Special Education Services.

If this is an initial evaluation or IEP, the district must obtain written consent of the parent(s) before proceeding.

If the student has previously been identified with an educational disability, the district must proceed within 7 calendar days after a written notice has been sent to the parent(s), unless the parent(s) objects in writing to the proposed action within the 7 calendar days.

When conciliation results in one or more agreed-upon provisions for an IEP, there is not a requirement for another IEP team meeting following a successful conciliation conference.

Parent refusal of the results of conciliation conference(s):

If a parent refuses conciliation and notifies the district of the intent to go to an impartial due process hearing, the district must provide the parent with:

(1)  The procedure and time in which to request the hearing;
(2)  The identification of the district employee to whom the written request form or other written request for a hearing must be mailed; and,
(3)  The identification of the person to whom questions and legal documents or requests about the hearing must be directed.