Parent Participation Parent Participation in WI Facilitated IEPsin WI Facilitated IEPs

October 29, 2005October 29, 2005

Presented by

Patricia Williams, WI Dept. of Public InstructionDon Rosin, Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council

Charlotte Price, Nelsinia Rojas & Jan Serak, WI FACETS

Parents as Parents as Stakeholders in Stakeholders in

WSEMSWSEMS Jan Serak Parent & Co-Director,

WI FACETS (PTIC/CPRC)Nissan Bar-Lev Special Education Director, CESA #7 Eva Soeka Mediator & Director, Marquette University Center for Dispute Resolution Education

Stakeholders’ Council

Mediation in WI Since Mediation in WI Since 19971997

• Agreements Withdrawn: 87 DPH requests, 12 IDEA & 4 OCR complaints

• Participant Evaluations– 89% satisfied with

agreement (N-390)

– 88% satisfied with process (N=519)

– 89% would use mediation again (N=515)

541 requests – 341 held

84% reached agreement

C

O Negotiation Facilitation Mediation Arbitration LitigationExtreme

N Informal Facilitated IDEA Slander

F Formal: IEP Complaint Hate Mail

L IEP Meeting Violence

I Resolution Resolution Due Process

C Session Session Hearing

T

© WSEMS 2005

Dispute Resolution Options

NO WITH

NEUTRAL A NEUTRAL

Least coercive

Most self-determination

Most coercive

Least self-determination

Presidential Commission Presidential Commission View of IEP FacilitationView of IEP Facilitation

“Early processes such as expert IEP

facilitation. . .to increase collaboration

and problem solving skills of school

staff and parents can help avoid

expensive disputes and promote efforts

to help students.”

-The President’s Commission on Excellence in Special Education

www.marquette.edu/www.marquette.edu/wsemswsems//

WDPI WDPI Facilitated IEP Facilitated IEP

Project Project

WDPI Supports FIEPWDPI Supports FIEP

“DPI supports IEP facilitation,

increasing the number of

options available to parents

and schools to resolve their

disputes. Such options will

assist the parties in

building long-lasting,

trustful and collaborative

relationships.”

-Dr. Stephanie Petska, Director, Special Education Team, Wisconsin DPI

• Not required in IDEA 2005

FIEP Pilot DataFIEP Pilot Data

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

96% Agree

4% No Opinion

(n=51)

• 96% agree FIEP will improve future meetings

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

96% Agree

4% No Opinion

0% Disagree

0% Disagree

(n=36)

• 96% satisfied with IEP developed in the FIEP meeting

•86% of participants would use FIEP again•96% believe it is important to be part of FIEP process

• 51 requests as of 4/15/05

Viewpoints Understood in FIEPViewpoints Understood in FIEP

S1

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

92% Agree

0% No Opinion 8% Disagree

(n=51)

S1

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90 90% Agree

I Believe that Others Understood My Viewpoint

•6% Disagree

•4% No Opinion

I Understood the Viewpoints of Others

Participants’ View of FacilitatorParticipants’ View of Facilitator

S1

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100 96% Agree

0% No Opinion

4% Disagree

N=51N=51

Participants Believe Facilitator was Respectful

S1

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

75% Agree

Participants Would Use the Facilitator Again

15% No Opinion •10%

Disagree

(N=51)

Preparing & Supporting Preparing & Supporting Parents for Facilitated IEPsParents for Facilitated IEPs

Perceptions Impact Relationships

Them Vs. Us

What’s the Difference?What’s the Difference?

Objective

Timing

Method

Facilitation Mediation

Help improve process for generating ideas, solving problems, making decisions, increasing team effectiveness

Help the parties negotiate a settlement to a particular dispute

Before any impasse is identified

After impasse

Entire group works together to develop IEP

Entire group or with specific parties to get a written agreement

2003 Eva M. Soeka. All rights reserved. No materials may be reproduced, duplicated, and/or distributed in any form or format without the prior written authorization of the author.

When Do I Request a FIEP?When Do I Request a FIEP?

• When you think an IEP will be difficult to manage to due lack of trust or expected communication problems

• Most effective in early IEP stages – before impasse.

• Any IEP: Initial, Annual, Re-evaluation, Review/Revision

How Do I How Do I Request a FIEP?Request a FIEP?

Call WSEMS Intake Coordinator

Joint or single request

Parent & school must both agree to participate

Neutral intake system

Free

 

 

 

Who Are the Facilitators?Who Are the Facilitators?

Charlotte A. Price

(inactive)

• WSEMS roster of neutrals (33 mediators/facilitators) • Trained on communication & working knowledge IDEA• Facilitator acceptable to parents & school

What is the Facilitator’s Role?What is the Facilitator’s Role?

“The person from the district in charge of the IEP meeting: focuses on the process of developing the IEP document.”

“The IEP facilitator asks any participant to clarify their intentions and meanings as well as raise issues to build consensus.”

What is the Parent What is the Parent Advocate’s Role?Advocate’s Role?

• Organize concerns and issues.• Help parents be willing to consider other

options.• Suggest ways for meaningful

communication.• Help bridge communication and

and build trust.• Suggest brief, frequent check in

meetings.

Perceptions Impact Relationships-Fixing the perceptions fix relationships

No “Them Vs. Us”

Barriers & Strategies to Barriers & Strategies to Encourage Participation by Encourage Participation by Culturally Diverse ParentsCulturally Diverse Parents