Mediation can help parents and school staff when they are trying to solve a problem and can’t agree. An impartial mediator holds a meeting to clarify issues, focus on the needs of a child, and explore and evaluate possible solutions in a confidential setting. Mediation is voluntary on both parties, i.e., they both have to agree to participate. It is provided at no cost to the parents or school division. It is a less confrontational (friendlier) approach, can produce the fastest results, and when successful it results in an enforceable (binding) written agreement. Discussions that occur in mediation cannot be used as evidence in a due process hearing. Here is some more detail on mediation.
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