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Home > Inside RIDE > RIDE Offices > Legal

Legal Office

image of judicial scales The Legal Office provides legal consultation and guidance to all agency offices; enforces educational statutory and regulatory compliance; and investigates civil rights complaints for referral to the United States Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights.

The Legal Department also manages the administrative hearing process for seeking resolution of disputes relating to such issues as student discipline, residency and transportation through the filing of appeals and complaints with the Office of Commissioner pursuant to the General Laws relating to schools and education.

What do I do if I’m having a problem at my child’s school?

What happens when schools and families don’t agree?

The Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) recognizes that shared decision-making can be challenging. There are times when family and school team members do not reach agreement or when a student’s entitlements may come under question. RIDE offers several state level options to assist families and schools in resolving issues that remain after attempts for resolution at the local school level have been exhausted.

Before seeking help from RIDE at the state level, consider the following questions:

Where am I in this dispute resolution process?

There is a certain process that must be adhered to before RIDE can assist a party with dispute resolution. Prior to contacting RIDE it is important that all attempts to resolve your issue be handled at the local level.

It is only when all of these attempts to resolve the dispute have been exhausted and you still are seeking remedy can RIDE be in a position to assist.

Classroom Teacher	First discuss the issue with classroom teacher, if the issue arises at the classroom level, and try to work it out.

School Principal	Then, if you are unable to work it out with the teacher, or if the issue is not specific to a certain class, then bring the issue to the school principal.

Superintendent	If you cannot resolve the issue with the school principal, then go to the district superintendent.

School Committee	If you cannot come to resolution with the superintendent, then go before the School Committee. If the issue is one that relates to your child's receipt of special education and related services, you may bypass the School Committee and go directly to the RIDE Special Education Call Center.

RIDE Legal Office / RIDE Special Education Call Center	If, after going through all of the levels described above, the issue is not resolved to your satisfaction, then you may contact RIDE and ask for a hearing. If the issue is about general education, contact the RIDE Legal office. If the issue is related to special education, contact the RIDE Special Education Call Center. If the issue is about general education issues, contact the RIDE Legal Office. If the issue is related to special education, contact the RIDE Special Education Call Center.

Hearing	(General education) A hearing will be scheduled and held before a hearing officer and you will have the opportunity to present your case. Although it is not required that you have an attorney to assist you, you may have an attorney represent you. A timely written decision will be prepared by the hearing officer and approved and issued by the Commissioner. (Special education) After a resolution process and/or mediation, a due process hearing will be scheduled and held before an impartial hearing officer and you will have the opportunity to present your case. Although it is not required that you have an attorney to assist you, you may have an attorney represent you. A timely written decision will be issued by the impartial hearing officer.

Council on Elementary and Secondary Education	(General education) If you disagree with the Commissioner's decision, you may appeal to the Council on Elementary and Secondary Education. (There are some exceptions, such as decisions in residency cases which are appealable to Superiour Court.) (Special education) If you disagree wih the decision of the impartial hearing officer, you may file a civil action in any state court of competent jurisdiction or in the United States District Court for the State of Rhode Island.

Download a printable version of the dispute resolution process.

Whom should I contact at RIDE when I have exhausted all efforts for resolution at the local level?

You have made all efforts at the local level to resolve your concern, but have been unsuccessful. So who in RIDE can help you?

It depends on whether your issue pertains to general education or special education.

If your concern is about General Education issues, such as:

Graduation requirements
School discipline or suspension
Bullying
Residency
Problems with teachers or other school staff
Transportation
Home Schooling
Your child’s accommodation under Section 504
Student promotion
Health and safety
Civil Rights
Student enrollment
Student grades

Please contact:

RIDE Legal Office
Vilma DiOrio, Executive Staff Assistant – Legal
401-222-8979
Vilma.DiOrio@ride.ri.gov

If your concern is about Special Education issues, such as:

Your rights as a parent of a child with a disability
Rights of your child with a disability
Your child’s special education and/or related services
Disagreement with a school team decision about:
- Whether your child needs a special education evaluation
- The types of timeline regarding special education evaluations your child will receive
- Whether your child has a disability and is in need of special education
- The Individualized Education Program (IEP) for your child with a disability

Please contact:

Special Education Call Center
Office of Student, Community and Academic Supports (OSCAS)
401-222-8999
Kerri.Sorensen@ride.ri.gov

Where can I find source law and legal interpretations?

There is an extensive body of educational law and regulations that guides RIDE in its mission to lead and support public education. The legal office at RIDE relies on its knowledge and understanding of such laws and regulations to support RIDE in ensuring all students achieve without the least limitation placed on their opportunity to succeed academically as meaningful contributors to society.