Special Education Dispute Resolution

Dispute Resolution Online Mediation Request Form

Online State Mediation Request Web Form

A parent of a child with a disability, as defined by the IDEA, or a public education agency may request mediation as a way to resolve disputes involving any matter that arises under the IDEA or its implementing regulations. [34 C.F.R. § 506(a)]

Mediation is a problem-solving process, rather than an adversarial process, which requires parties to communicate directly with each other and to work toward a mutually agreeable solution.

Mediation is available to parents and public education agencies to resolve disputes.
Mediation will be held only if both parties agree.
Each party must have the legal authority to enter into a mediation agreement.
Mediators are assigned on an individual basis.
The goal is to complete the mediation in one session; the session is structured, but informal.
Each party comes to the session with the authority to commit the necessary resources for whatever they may agree to as a result of mediation.
The session is private, and participants agree that what transpires at the mediation session is to be kept confidential.
When successful, the outcome is a written agreement between the parties resolving the issue(s) to the satisfaction of both sides.

The Arizona Department of Education – Dispute Resolution Unit is ONLY authorized to mediate issues regarding special education. Examples of issues that Dispute Resolution cannot mediate include issues of abuse, neglect, discrimination, retaliation, harassment, civil rights violations, employment matters, Section 504 plans, school policy matters, or anything not specifically related to special education.

Please complete the following:

Requestor

Parent/Guardian

Charter/District

Other

Parent/Guardian Information

Parent/Guardian

Selected?	First Name	Last Name	Phone Number	Email Address
Is Selected?	First Name	Last Name	Phone Number	Email Address

Student(s)

Selected?	First Name	Last Name	Date of Birth	Grade
Is Selected?	First Name	Last Name	Date of Birth	Grade

Address

Street Address

Address Line 2

City

State

Zip Code

Email Address

Charter/District Information

Charter/District

Please select a District or Charter School from the list below.

School Name

School Representative

Superintendent/Director

SPED Director

Other

First Name
Last Name

Address

Street Address

Address Line 2

City

State

Zip Code

Phone Number

Fax Number

Email Address

Issues

Please list issue(s)

Questions concerning this form, or the mediation process may be addressed by contacting:
Arizona Department of Education
Attn: Director of Dispute Resolution
1535 West Jefferson, Bin # 62
Phoenix, Arizona 85007
Phone: (602) 542-3084 Fax: (602) 364-0641
Email: ESSDRInbox@azed.gov

If you do NOT submit from this website, please send a copy of the Mediation request to the above address or fax number.

Additionally: If you have submitted your mediation request outside of regular business hours it will be considered received by Dispute Resolution on the next business day.