Main Library
This library contains CADRE resources as well as State, Lead Agency and Parent Center resources. Please note that CADRE makes no endorsement of the State, Lead Agency and Parent Center resources included here, nor of any policies, procedures, processes, or documents specific to any item.
A Note from CADRE: As conversations continue around the reauthorization of the IDEA, CADRE welcomes ideas and dialogue around possible improvements to the law. This webinar was offered in the spirit of starting a conversation around concerns with the due process system and exploring possible solutions. It was not intended to represent all perspectives, nor do the opinions of the presenters in this webinar necessarily represent the opinions of CADRE. Healthy dialogue is likely to include areas of disagreement but can lead to better outcomes. The important thing is that we engage each other in...
About the Webinar: This webinar will present the results of a systematic analysis of a representative sample of complaint procedure decisions and hearing officer decisions in five of the most active states. The comparison will be not only between these two systems for the total sample but also among the five state subsamples. The three dimensions of the comparison will be (a) the issue categories, (b) the outcomes, and, for the parent-favorable outcomes, (c) the remedies. About the Presenter: Perry A. Zirkel is university professor emeritus of education and law at Lehigh University, where he...
These documents contain the 2022 (FFY 2020-21) SPP/APR Analyses for the Dispute Resolution Indicators (B15 & B16 and C9 & C10). For the Analyses completed by OSEP-funded Technical Assistance and Dissemination projects visit OSEP's SPP/APR Communities Resources webpage .
Video of Beyond Mediation and Facilitation: Exploring Early Resolution Options About the Webinar: Across the nation, states are developing innovative ways to respond to and prevent conflict. This webinar will showcase three early resolution practices that have been adopted by SEAs in Washington State, Georgia, and Louisiana. These practices attempt to minimize conflict by increasing the capacity of systems and individuals to meaningfully collaborate and problem solve. Participants will hear Scott Raub speak about Washington’s Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction Parent Liaison...
CADRE’s Exemplar Initiative: Identifying, Profiling and Showcasing Resources from High-Performing State Special Education and Early Intervention Dispute Resolution Systems State System Profiles Between Fall 2008 and Summer 2010, CADRE undertook a process to identify state special education and early intervention dispute resolution systems that are particularly effective and to characterize those systems and their components in ways that would be useful to other states that are considering improvement activities. Four state systems - Iowa, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin - were identified...
Video of Community Led Systems Change in a Public School District through Parent Participatory Evaluation Participatory Evaluation empowers those who are closest to the matter to take the lead in the evaluation. Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) launched the Parent Participatory Evaluation (PPE) program in the fall of 2018. By partnering with parents from five culturally-specific groups (African American, American Indian, Hmong, LatinX, and Somali), MPS engages parents to identify opportunities for improvement and partner on innovative solutions that best reflect the priorities of our...
On January 9, 2013, CADRE hosted a free webinar with guest presenter Tricia Jones, Conflict Coaching: Its Value in Special Education Dispute Resolution . Video of CADRE Webinar - Conflict Coaching: Special Ed Dispute Resolution, Tricia Jones 1.9.13 About the Webinar : Conflict coaching is a one-on-one process that helps someone in conflict gain a better understanding of the conflict and how s/he may manage conflict constructively. Increasingly used in workplace and community conflicts, this session explored how it may help parents, educators and special education dispute resolution...
Historically, mediation has not been an effective venue for dispute resolution for Deaf people because of linguistic inaccessibility and cultural non-recognition. Like other linguistic minority groups who experience and resolve conflict in a manner consistent with their social and communicative norms Deaf people have some unique perspectives. The following article illuminates some of these perspectives and explains how mediators can address these differences when working with Deaf people, in order to make mediation a more linguistically and culturally respectful and responsive endeavor. A...
This document was updated in 2019. This pamphlet describes, from an administrators perspective, the benefits of participating in mediation as a means to solve special education disputes between parents and educators. It dispels common concerns and also provides helpful tips to those considering mediation as a dispute resolution option. This document was originally published in September 2001, and was updated in 2019. Interested in IEP Facilitation? Check out CADRE's Considering IEP Facilitation: A School Administrator's Perspective .
About the Webinar : Recently the presenters have heard from States that the frequency of phone calls, emails and written complaints coming from “frequent filers” has significantly increased. Frequent filers are individuals who file multiple complaints (informal and formal), often on overlapping issues and with increasing frustration evidenced in each subsequent filing. They may be extremely difficult to talk to and seem unwilling or unable to problem-solve around their concern. However, if and when you are able to get past the anger and begin to unpack the substance of the concern, there are...
Video of Cracks in the Foundation: Checking our Bias to Build Better Systems About the Webinar At the state level, people build policies and procedures to serve the population of students receiving special education instruction and services. However, these policies and procedures can unknowingly be designed with implicit bias that can ultimately serve to perpetuate inequality and inequities within certain communities. This presentation will discuss implicit bias and micro-aggressions at a macro level as well as address strategies that can facilitate cultural and linguistic equity in policies...
This study reviews state databases and examines the ratio of dispute resolution cases per 10,000. A CADRE Publication
Below is a crosswalk of the data elements used to report IDEA-related dispute resolution activity for Part B (Table 7) and Part C (Table 4). This crosswalk references changes in the dispute resolution data elements from 2004 through 2012.
About the Webinar: This was a special webinar for people to get ideas on how to use these new, parent-friendly guides on mediation, due process hearings, written State complaints, and resolution meetings. This webinar also described the collaborative process that CADRE used to develop the guides. The new parent-friendly guides on special education dispute resolution are available for download from the CADRE website: http://www.directionservice.org/cadre/DRparentguides2014.cfm Presenters: Marshall Peter, CADRE Ruth Ryder, OSEP Jan Serak, WI FACETS Myriam Alizo, NJ SPAN Bob Rutten, ND Office of...
This document is a sample of a Due Process Hearing Extension Order. It serves as a tool that states may choose to use to document extensions, length of extensions, and new dates for a hearing and decision that meets the timelines required by IDEA.
Video of Due Process in a Quarantined World: The Nuts-and-Bolts of Effective Virtual Hearings About this webinar: Even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Pennsylvania had developed effective virtual hearings as part of its special education due process system. Using common videoconference platforms, such as Zoom and GoToMeeting, hearing officers experienced in convening and presiding over virtual hearing sessions will provide an overview of the entire virtual hearing process, including technology needs, exhibits, witnesses, examinations, the court reporter, and managing the hearing. Hearing...
Introduction The introduction to this sourcebook stresses the need for schools, communities, and families to work together to educate children to be productive and caring 21 st century citizens. American families are described as more diverse than ever before, spanning cultures, languages, levels of education, and socioeconomic and demographic differences. Family involvement is defined in an expansive way to include and recognize the value of a broad spectrum of activities that involve family members and/or guardians helping children to learn, both at home and at school. Barriers that limit...
An educational advocate, also known as a parent advocate, child advocate, student advocate, or independent advocate, assists parents of students with disabilities in navigating the complex world of special education. For a fee, professional advocates provide information, guidance and support throughout the IEP process to encourage decisions that meet the needs of the student. This guide, developed by CADRE, will assist parents in: Asking interview questions that will help get an understanding of an advocate’s approach to providing support Connecting with parent centers in their state...
Engaging Parents in Productive Partnerships is an easy-to-read presentation of suggestions on how educators and service providers can effectively collaborate with parents including specific recommendations for IEP meetings. Tell us what you think of the document, please click here to take a short survey. (link is external) To order copies of this publication, please fill out this order form.
On July 13th, 2011 Nissan Bar-Lev, Director of CESA 7 (WI), Jan Serak, Co-Director of WI FACETS, JoAnne Blades, Program Manager of Oklahoma SERC, and Sharon House, Executive Director of Oklahoma Parents Center, joined Marshall Peter (Director of CADRE) to share exemplary practices in stakeholder engagement in dispute resolution. This webinar illustrates how these two states have incorporated meaningful stakeholder involvement into their state systems. A recording of the webinar is also available. The PowerPoint from this presentation is available for download below.
CADRE has profiled four exemplary state special education dispute resolution systems: Iowa, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Each of the state's profiles is available individually and all four profiles are included in a single combined document. In all four of these states, the Early Intervention (Part C) dispute resolution system is managed by the same entity that manages the Part B system. Oklahoma has adopted Part B timelines for their Part C system. These profiles present an overview of each state's system, focusing on some common aspects of state system performance and emphasizing...
About the Webinar: Increasingly, restorative approaches to discipline are being recognized as promising alternatives to suspension and expulsion. Focusing on the field of special education, this webinar will explore the use of restorative practices beyond school discipline. Members of School Talk/Restorative DC will join us to talk about the different ways that restorative practices are being used in DC area schools, including how restorative approaches may be valuable in IEP meetings. In addition, we will explore the potential of restorative approaches for preventing and resolving special...
Video of Exploring Implicit Bias and Microaggressions in Special Education About the Webinar: Unconscious bias is the result, in part, of the human brain’s need to categorize and store vast amounts of information. While everyone has unconscious biases, it can create problems when they surface in our evaluations and decisions. In Special Education, our implicit biases can alter our decisions regarding who we assess, who we believe, and how we evaluate cases. Further, it is important to understand how microaggressions can affect our parties, clients, and colleagues, leaving them with negative...
On February 28, 2013 CADRE hosted a free webinar with Sukhsimranjit Singh, Associate Director, Willamette University Center for Dispute Resolution, Exploring the Cultural Dimensions of Conflict. Video of Sukhsimranjit Singh_Culture and Conflict - CADRE Webinar_2.28.13 About the Webinar: Every society is riddled with conflict. Conflict is inevitable and different cultures have different ways of dealing with conflict within and outside the group. This session explored the cultural dimensions of conflict and provided an international perspective on exploring, negotiating with, and resolving a...