IEP Facilitation Procedures for Special Education

Revised Sept. 2009What is IEP Facilitation?*IEP facilitation is all about the student andhelping the IEP team overcome the pressure andanxiety often associated with a contentiousmeeting. The facilitator makes sure that the focusof the team remains on the best interests of thestudent. The facilitator is a skilled specialeducation mediator who has received specializedtraining in the area of IEP development. IEPfacilitation is voluntarily inviting this externalfacilitator into the IEP team meeting. Thefacilitator’s primary goal is to assist teammembers in the thoughtful, productiveconstruction of a quality individualizededucational program. This is achieved byencouraging and directing communicationspecific to the IEP and assuring that themembers of the IEP team are empowered in theirparticipation and invested in the plan. Thefacilitator makes no educational decisionsregarding the student. Rather the facilitator willaddress issues during the process that producetension within the team so that they are able tofind their own solutions.*This is a general description of the IEP Facilitationprocess. It is not intended to interpret, modify or replaceformal requirements under federal law.The Benefits of IEP Facilitation• Builds and improves relationships among theIEP team members and between parentsand schools.• Insures that the meeting is student-focused.• Models effective communication andlistening.• Clarifies points of agreement anddisagreement.• Provides opportunities for team members toresolve conflicts if they arise.• Encourages parents and professionals toidentify new options to address unresolvedproblems.• Costs less than more formal proceedingssuch as due process hearings.• Is typically less stressful than formalproceedings.• Supports follow through.• Supports all parties in participating fully.• IEP Facilitation is provided at no cost.The FacilitatorA trained facilitator:• Helps members of the IEP team focus ondeveloping a satisfactory IEP. With theagreement of all team members, thefacilitator may help create an overall agendaand assist in generating ground rules for themeeting.• Guides the discussion by keeping the team’senergy centered on student-focusedquestions.• Assists the team to resolve conflicts anddisagreements that may arise during themeeting.• Helps to maintain open communicationamong all members.• Helps team members develop and askclarifying questions.• Helps to keep team members on task andwithin the time allotted for the meeting.• Maintains impartiality and does not takesides, place blame or determine if aparticular decision is right or wrong.• Does not impose a decision on the group.How to Request IEP FacilitationIEP facilitation is available under the followingconditions:• IEP facilitation is available without the needto request a due process hearing or file aformal complaint.• IEP facilitation can be requested by anymember of the IEP team.• IEP facilitation is available during the filingand investigation of a formal complaint orduring the filing of a due process hearingrequest.• IEP facilitation is provided at no cost to bothparties.• Once both parties agree to IEP facilitation,they are provided a list of three IEPfacilitators to choose from.• The selected IEP facilitator will contact bothparties to set up the date, time and locationof the IEP facilitation.Submit requests for IEP Facilitation to:Ohio Department of EducationOffice for Exceptional Children, Mediation25 South Front Street, Mail Stop #202Columbus, Ohio 43215-4183Phone: (877) 644-6338Fax (614) 728-1097