Procedural Safeguards (Notice of Parental Rights)
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the Federal law concerning the education of students with disabilities, requires schools to provide parents of a child with a disability with a notice containing a full explanation of the procedural safeguards available under the IDEA and U.S. Department of Education regulations.
A copy of this notice must be given to parents at least one time a school year.
A copy must also be shared upon:
- initial referral or parent request for evaluation,
- upon receipt of a first State complaint,
- upon receipt of the first due process complaint in a school year,
- when a decision is made to take a disciplinary action that constitutes a change of placement; and
- upon parent request.
English: Full Size Procedural Safeguards Notice
Español: Tamaño completo Avisos de Garantías de Procedimiento
Hmong: Tsab Ntawv Ceeb Toom Txog Cov Txheej Txheem Tiv Thaiv Kev Ruaj Ntseg
No cover, includes table of contents, 12 pt, 42 pages
English: Condensed Procedural Safeguards Notice
Español: Avisos de Garantías de Procedimiento en fuente de 10 puntos
No cover, no table of contents, 10 pt, 19 pages
Communication Options for Families
The Wisconsin Statewide Parent Educator Initiative (WSPEI) developed a resource that provides families with options available if families have questions or disagree with a decision of the school. The Communication Options for Families resource emphasizes how families and schools have a “built-in” partnership with the child as the focus and how this partnership will grow when parents and school staff work together.
English (PDF): Communication Options for Families
English (fill-in): Communication Options for Families
Espanol (PDF): Opciones de comunicación para familias
Espanol (fill-in): Opciones de comunicación para familias
Hmong (PDF): Tej Kev Sib Txuas Lus Rau Cov Tsev Neeg
Hmong (fill-in): Tej Kev Sib Txuas Lus Rau Cov Tsev Neeg
Dispute Resolution Options
Parents, adult students, and schools have different options on how to solve disagreements. The resource below gives a brief overview of the different dispute resolution options and includes contact information for each option. These options include Mediation, IDEA State Complaint, and Due Process Hearings.
Dispute Resolution Options Flier, Wisconsin DPI
Folleto Sobre Opciones de Resolución de Disputas
Dispute Resolution Options webpage, Wisconsin DPI
Parent Rights for Language Translation and Interpretation
Providing Language Assistance to Parents, Wisconsin DPI
Asistencia a los Padres con el Idioma, Wisconsin DPI
Additional Special Education Legal Requirements
Information Update Bulletins, Wisconsin DPI: Find legal guidance on a large variety of special education topics including evaluations, transportation, use of special education paraprofessionals, extended school year, discipline, behavioral supports, assistive technology, shortened school days, and much more.
Endrew F. Advocacy Toolkit, Understood.org: This resource provides families with talking points they can bring to IEP team meetings. These talking points outline many of the requirements highlighted from the 2017 Supreme Court case that redified requirements for provision of a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE).