Kathy: We had an IEP Team meeting and the team agreed to goals, services, minutes, etc. Then the District came back with a final IEP that looks nothing like what the team agreed to. They said it is “final and locked” and cannot be changed. IDEA says that there must be an IEP team that includes the parents, but it doesn’t specify how team decisions are made (consensus, majority rules, etc.) So is there nothing to prevent the District to have the final say and mandate an IEP? Is the parents’ only recourse going to due process? What is the point of having a team if the District blatantly ignores the team decisions?
A complaint to the state, & a request for mediation are options that the law gives you. These can be effective. Some states have procedures for providing a “facilitator” at IEP meetings. Some districts do not want to go to a hearing, so they agree to do somethings to get a parent to drop the hearing request.
I have a similar issue, but my question is….are the parents the only ones that can file a complaint with the state?