Texas Dispute Resolution Process
This website provides information on the Texas Education Agency's (TEA) three programs for resolving disagreement that may arise between parents or adult students and school officials regarding the educational program for a student who is eligible for special education and related services under the IDEA. A party may seek resolution of the disagreement by participating in: (1) a voluntary mediation session; (2) an informal special education complaint investigation; or (3) a formal due process hearing.
Because the parties will need to work together in the future on matters relating to a student’s educational program, TEA’s policy is to encourage resolution of disputes at the local level if possible. Often, parties are able to resolve disagreements by holding an ARD committee meeting or a meeting that includes other school personnel, such as a campus administrator, the special education director, or other school district administrators or support personnel. Some school districts have begun using neutral meeting facilitators to assist ARD committees with resolving disagreements.
