Parent Participation in WI Facilitated IEPs October 29, 2005 Parent Participation in WI Facilitated IEPs October 29, 2005 Presented by Patricia Williams, WI Dept. of Public Instruction Don Rosin, Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council Charlotte Price, Nelsinia Rojas & Jan Serak, WI FACETS

Parents as Stakeholders in WSEMS  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Mediation in WI Since 1997 Agreements Withdrawn: 87 DPH requests, 12 IDEA & 4 OCR complaints Participant Evaluations –89% satisfied with agreement (N-390) –88% satisfied with process (N=519) –89% would use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 View 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

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WDPI Facilitated IEP Project

WDPI 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 Data 96% Agree 4% No Opinion (n=51) 96% agree FIEP will improve future meetings 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 FIEP 92% Agree 0% No Opinion 8% Disagree (n=51) 90% Agree I Believe that Others Understood My Viewpoint 6% Disagree 4% No Opinion I Understood the Viewpoints of Others

Participants’ View of Facilitator 96% Agree 0% No Opinion 4% Disagree N=51 Participants Believe Facilitator was Respectful 75% Agree Participants Would Use the Facilitator Again 15% No Opinion 10% Disagree (N=51)

Preparing & Supporting Parents for Facilitated IEPs

Perceptions Impact Relationships Them Vs. Us

What’s the Difference? Objective Timing Method FacilitationMediation 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 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 Request a FIEP? How Do I 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? 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?  “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 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 Encourage Participation by Culturally Diverse Parents