Impartial Hearing Officer
Advocacy & Dispute ResolutionDefinition
A neutral, trained individual who presides over due process hearings and makes legally binding decisions about disputes between parents and school districts. The hearing officer must not be an employee of the school district or the state education agency involved in the child's education, and must have no personal or professional interest in the outcome.
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A formal legal proceeding where a parent or school district presents evidence before an impartial hearing officer to resolve a dispute about a child's identification, evaluation, placement, or provision of FAPE. Either party can request a due process hearing. Decisions are legally binding.
A formal written complaint filed by a parent or school district to initiate a due process hearing. The complaint must describe the child, the nature of the problem, proposed resolution, and relevant facts. It triggers a 30-day resolution period before the hearing can proceed.
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