Available to families and school personnel in several languages, this brochure explains the options for resolving special education issues. Please take a moment to review this brochure before filing a state level complaint or taking a due process step, to ensure that you use the tool best suited to address your special education issue.
Special Education Impartial Mediator Employment
The Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) Office of Student, Community and Academic Supports is seeking applicants for Impartial Special Education Mediators who will provide a proactive approach to resolve disputes between families and schools regarding a child’s special education program. This person will remain a neutral party and will assist participants to arrive at a mutual agreement using an equitable and informal mediation process.
Essential Functions:
Schedule, convene and conduct special education mediations involving public school administrators, parents, advocates and/or attorneys and staff from other agencies.
Manage the conduct and facilitate a problem-solving process with participants in the special education mediation sessions.
Provide technical assistance regarding state and federal special education laws and regulations during special education mediation sessions.
Memorialize the terms of the Mediated Agreements reached by the parties.
Conduct mediation sessions that assure confidentiality, using discretion and sound judgment.
Direct special education mediation sessions to arrive at a speedy and meaningful resolution of the dispute.
Manage an assigned special education mediation caseload.
Delineate matters to be resolved by mediation and matters to be referred to other dispute resolution processes (State Special Education Complaint or Due Process Hearing).
Exhibit personal integrity, neutrality, and impartiality in all aspects of the performance of duties.
Promptly responds to mediation participants’ inquiries.
Work closely and efficiently with RIDE to accept special education mediation assignments, provide updates of cases, and finalize outcomes of sessions.
Required Qualifications:
Advanced knowledge of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Rhode Island Regulations Governing the Education of Children with Disabilities.
Three or more years of experience with the implementation of the IDEA and Rhode Island Regulations Governing the Education of Children with Disabilities.
Recent experience in serving as a mediator preferred.
Ability to conduct special education mediations within established timelines.
High level of interpersonal skills and communication skills which will allow for the professional interaction with diverse stakeholders, including but not limited to, parents and professionals.
Proficient computer and technology skills which allow the ability to schedule, conduct and participate in virtual meetings.
Fluency in English and Spanish or Portuguese, both spoken and written preferred.
Willingness to participate in training sessions.
Ability to commit to a year-round rotation of being assigned special education mediations. Note, this position does not mirror the state school calendar and requires availability throughout the summer.
Required upon securing employment to complete and gain a certificate of completion in mediation from the Center for Mediation & Collaboration, Rhode Island.
Working Conditions / Work Environment:
May need to work in a variety of uncontrolled venues/environments, including virtual meetings.
Travel to any and all cities and towns in Rhode Island as assigned.
Provide own reliable transportation with proof of Rhode Island minimum requirements of auto insurance.
Use of personal technology and equipment to conduct virtual sessions.
Use of personal wireless networking technology to allow for email communications and virtual sessions.
Ineligible:
Current RIDE employees and individuals employed within the last two years by RIDE or a Rhode Island public or private local education agency, charter school, state-operated school, or non-public special education school.
Individuals who have a wide variety of conflicts with either school agencies or parties that may be involved in special education dispute resolution which prevent the assignment of special education mediations.
To apply:
Submit a letter of interest, resume, and three references to:
Kerri Sorensen
Rhode Island Department of Education
Office of Student Community and Academic Supports, 5th Floor
255 Westminster Street, Suite 500
Providence, RI 02903-3400
Kerri.Sorensen@RIDE.ri.gov
Submissions may be either in writing to the Department or through email communications.
A special education state complaint is a signed, written statement alleging that a local school department or other public education agency violated a requirement of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) or Rhode Island Regulations Governing the Education of Children with Disabilities. A state complaint must be submitted in writing and must include certain required elements as described in RIDEs complaint procedures. The RIDE will carry out an investigation and issue a written Findings Letter within 60 calendar days of receiving the complaint (unless an extension is granted). If the school department or other public educational agency is determined to be in violation of special education laws regulations, it will be required to develop and implement a corrective action plan. The conclusions and corrective actions stipulated in the Findings Letter represent the final decision of the Rhode Island Department of Education.
Before deciding whether a written state complaint is the best option for addressing your special education issue, it is recommended that you review the Options and Resources brochure as well as the RIDE Special Education State Complaint Procedures here:
To assist you in including all required elements of a written complaint, a model form is available by clicking here:
An impartial due process hearing is an administrative special education proceeding in which the parent and school department present their respective cases to an impartial hearing officer, who makes a decision for the parties, rendered in writing. The hearing officers decision is final unless appealed through civil action in U.S. district court or a state court of competent jurisdiction.
Before deciding whether an impartial due process hearing is the best option for addressing your special education issue, it is recommended that you review the Options and Resources brochure as well as the RIDE Special Education Impartial Due Process Hearing Procedures here:
A request for a special education impartial due process hearing must be submitted in writing to the Office of Student, Community and Academic Supports and contain all required elements. To assist you in filing a request for a special education impartial due process hearing, the RIDE provides the following model form that includes the required elements as well as other helpful information.
To access the model form for requesting an impartial due process hearing click here:
El formulario que figura adelante le ayudar a solicitar una audiencia de debido proceso imparcial en materia de educación especial. Éste muestra ciertas informaciones necesarias y tiles para tramitar su solicitud. Para asegurarse de que esté empleando el procedimiento correcto para resolver su problema, por favor examine el folleto sobre opciones y recursos que aparece en esta página web. Para presentar su solicitud, por favor descargue el formulario para solicitud de audiencia de debido proceso, llénelo y por correo a la dirección que aparece al final del formulario. Si tiene alguna pregunta sobre las opciones con las que cuenta para resolver conflictos, por favor llámenos al (401) 222-8999. Formulario modelo para solicitar una audencia de debido proceso imparcial en materia de educacin especial
O formulrio seguinte ajuda-o/a a solicitar uma audincia de processo imparcial do ensino especial. Mostra todos os dados necessrios e teis no processamento da sua solicitao. Para se certificar que est a utilizar o processo adequado para resolver a sua questo, consulte o documento Opes e Recursos neste website. Para submeter a sua solicitao, faa o download deste formulrio, preencha-o e envie o Pedido de Processo de Audincia para o endereo abaixo. Se necessitar de qualquer esclarecimento sobre as suas opes de resoluo de disputa, contate-nos atravs do telefone (401) 222-8999.
Formulrio modelo para Solicitao de Audincia de Processo Imparcial do Ensino Especial
The Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) Office of Student, Community and Academic Supports is seeking individuals to serve as administrative due process hearing officers in special education disputes. Due Process Hearing Officers are responsible for managing and presiding over special education due process hearings throughout Rhode Island.
Qualifications:
- Juris Doctorate and membership in the R.I. Bar Association;
- an understanding of provisions of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, related federal and state regulations, and applicable case law;
- the ability to conduct hearings and issue written decisions consistent with standard legal practice and within required state and federal timelines; and
- willingness and availability to participate in training prior to hearing cases.
Note: Current or former RIDE employees and individuals employed within the last two years by a R.I. public education agency, school or non-public special education school are excluded.
Application Deadline: Posted until filled
Please submit letter of interest, references, and resume to:
J. David Sienko, Director, Office of Student, Community & Academic Supports
Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
255 Westminster Street, Suite 500
Providence, RI 02903-3400