Individualized Education Program Facilitation
Para leer esta página en español, haga clic aquí.
Description
Individualized education program (IEP) facilitation is a method of alternative dispute resolution that involves the use of a trained facilitator to assist an admission, review, and dismissal (ARD) committee in developing an IEP for a student with a disability. The facilitator uses facilitation techniques to help the committee members communicate and collaborate effectively. A student’s school or the state may provide a facilitator for an ARD committee meeting. While schools are not required to offer IEP facilitation as an alternative dispute resolution method, TEA encourages the use of IEP facilitation. Facilitation must be voluntary on the part of the participants and must be provided at no cost to the parents. Additionally, no one may use facilitation to deny or delay the right to pursue a special education complaint, mediation, or due process hearing in accordance with federal law.
Benefits of Facilitated ARD Committee Meetings
Facilitated ARD committee meetings can, and often do, result in the following benefits for students, families, and schools.
- Improved student outcomes: Having a facilitator run the meeting means the parent and district can focus on what is most important: the student.
- Enhanced collaboration: Having a facilitator run the meeting helps keep communication open, transparent, and free from distractions.
- Efficient: Having a facilitator appointed by TEA to run the meeting is fast, easy, and free. Facilitated ARD committee meetings are often the fastest dispute resolution option available through TEA at no cost to parents or schools.
The Role of a Facilitator in an ARD committee meeting
A facilitator is not a member of the ARD committee and has no decision-making authority over the ARD committee meeting. The facilitator must be impartial and cannot provide input or an opinion into the development of a student’s IEP.
A facilitator assists with the overall organization and conduct of the ARD committee meeting by:
- assisting the committee in establishing an agenda and setting the time allotted for the meeting,
- assisting the committee in establishing a set of guidelines for the meeting,
- guiding the discussion and keeping the focus on developing a mutually-agreed-upon IEP for the student,
- ensuring that each committee member has an opportunity to participate,
- helping to resolve disagreements that arise, and
- helping to keep the ARD committee on task and within the time allotted for the meeting.
State Facilitation
TEA has established a program that provides independent IEP facilitators in accordance with Texas Education Code §29.020.
If a parent and a school want to request an independent facilitator, they must complete the Request for a State Facilitated Individualized Education Program Meeting form, which can be found at the following links: English | Spanish. Additionally, an interested party may contact spedcomplaints@tea.texas.gov and request a copy of the form.
Upon completion, the form must be filed with TEA by the parent or by the school through email, mail, hand-delivery, or facsimile to:
Texas Education Agency
Special Education Complaints and Directed Supports Division
William B. Travis Building
1701 N. Congress Avenue
Austin TX 78701-1494
Fax: (512) 463-9560
For TEA to provide an independent facilitator, the following conditions must be met:
- The parent and the school must complete and sign the required form.
- The dispute must relate to an ARD committee meeting in which the committee did not reach mutual agreement about the required elements of the IEP and in which the ARD committee has agreed to recess and reconvene the meeting in accordance with 19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) §89.1050.
- TEA must receive the request for an IEP facilitation within ten calendar days of the ARD committee meeting that ended in disagreement, and a facilitator must be available on the date set for reconvening the meeting.
- TEA can only provide a facilitator once per school year to the same parties regarding the same student.
Within five business days of receipt of a request for an IEP facilitation under this section, TEA will determine whether the required conditions have been met and will notify the parent and the school of its determination and the assignment of the independent facilitator, if applicable.
TEA may make the independent facilitator assignment based on a combination of factors, including, but not limited to, geographic location and availability. If assigned, the independent facilitator will promptly contact the parties to clarify the issues, gather necessary information, and explain the IEP facilitation process.
If TEA decides not to provide an independent facilitator, TEA will notify the parent and the school of the decision. TEA’s decision is final and is not subject to review or appeal.
Changes to the Process
As of November 18, 2024, parties may request a state-appointed facilitator even though there is a pending special education complaint, mediation, or due process hearing. Additionally, a facilitator may be appointed for concerns related to manifestation determinations.
You may address questions related to the state IEP facilitation program to spedcomplaints@tea.texas.gov.
Local Facilitation
Schools that choose to offer IEP facilitation in accordance with Texas Education Code § 29.019 must provide information to parents regarding facilitation, including a description of any applicable procedures for requesting facilitation. The information provided to parents must be included with other information provided to the parent of a student with a disability, although it may be provided as a separate document and may be provided in a written or electronic format.
The school may choose to use independent contractors, employees, or other qualified individuals as facilitators.
A parent who is interested in local facilitation should contact his or her student’s school and follow local procedures to request that a facilitator be present at the student’s ARD committee meeting.