A national survey of all 50 states concerning the availability of due process procedures for gifted students and the number and nature of recent hearings produced the following information: 28 states currently provide due process or mediation for conflicts concerning gifted students and 7 states reported holding 26 due process hearings from…

The article gives parents of a handicapped child a five step problem solving approach to solving conflict with the child's school. (DB)

Responds to Jonathan Beyer's proposal in the January 1999 issue of this Journal (EJ583600) that traditional mediation would be useful for resolving special education disputes by formalizing the way that mediators are trained. Relying on empirical research, warns that Beyer's proposals for further quality controls and consequent formalization may…

The members of an ad hoc investigating committee visited Yeshiva University to interview three faculty members whose appointments were terminated, two former deans, the faculty members' departmental chairmen, and other faculty colleagues. The issues involved in the termination of the three appointments are discussed. (MLW)

Recognizes the benefits of mediation for easing special education conflicts, but addresses the inconsistencies and ambiguities created by the 1997 amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Recommends that state and local education agencies use mediators certified in sophisticated mediation techniques, schooled in…

A study (n=408 college students) testing a model for grade appeal procedures found that the perceived favorability of the outcome for the student, presumably associated with the student's perceived self-interest, had direct effects on perceived conformity of the appeal procedure with the justice rules and on general attitudes toward the procedure.…

This article discusses the development of mediation as an alternative to litigation in resolving special education disputes. It describes the successes and challenges associated with special education mediation cases in Missouri prior to the 1997 IDEA amendments, which require such intervention, with an examination of four specific cases.…

A review of special-education court cases found that, while school district wins exceeded parent wins in due process hearings and appeals, the margin narrowed through litigation. The most predominant issue in dispute was placement in terms of parents seeking more restrictive settings. The Supreme Court's language in Board of Education v. Rowley…

Mediation, in which a neutral third party helps two people come up with their own solutions, is being used to settle faculty and staff grievances. Experiences at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Duke University, Emory University, and the University of Cincinnati are described. (MLW)

As the university becomes more of a bureaucracy than a community, changes occur in the law, power structures, and student faculty relationships, and members of the community are turning to the courts to resolve disputes they once settled informally. (Author/MSE)

Reviews the 1997 amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act in the context of the law's history. Focused on are changes in Individualized Education Program requirements, mediation as a conflict resolution option, discipline of students in special education, and the required review of the relationship between a student's…

Educational disputes involving gifted students may be resolved via conferences with parties involved, mediation, due process, or court litigation. Students in programs or activities receiving federal support may file complaints with the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights. Suggestions are offered for becoming informed about…

This article compares and contrasts provisions for procedural safeguards and due process hearings under 2 sections of Public Law 99-457: Part B, dealing with children ages 3-5, and Part H, dealing with infants and toddlers. Potential problems under Part H are pointed out and suggestions are made for implementing Part H safeguards without conflict.…

This article reviews issues related to communication modality and placement of children who are deaf or hard-of-hearing, discusses reasons that school districts end up in due process hearings, and cites pertinent court cases. It offers suggestions to help educators provide effective testimony and concludes by highlighting possible positive…

Guidelines and suggestions are given to help school professionals avoid formal due process proceedings concerning the education of exceptional children. Methods for resolving conflicts early include trust building, empathic listening, and structured problem-solving. (Author/MSE)