Mediation is a voluntary process in which a mediator assists parents and education agencies to resolve disagreements related to special education and/or related services. The desired outcome of Mediation is to find a resolution with a signed, legally enforceable written agreement. The benefit of Mediation is that it can quickly resolve disputes, and the process supports productive relationships between parents and the education agency. Mediation is offered at no cost to parents and schools and is only provided when both the parent and the school agree to participate.

The Nevada Department of Education (NDE) is a neutral party and cannot provide guidance on situations or concerns that may be addressed during Mediation. NDE maintains a list of qualified mediators and assigns mediators through an impartial method, with consideration of their schedule and availability.

Mediation may be requested by a parent or an education agency (i.e., school district, charter school authority, etc.). When Mediation is requested, NDE will verify that both parties agree to participate and confirm that the submitted request is complete and pertains to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B. NDE will accept requests filed by both parties for a specific mediator named on the NDE list of qualified mediators, if available. NDE will notify the parties once a mediator has been assigned, and the mediator will contact both parties to arrange the mediation session. Discussions that occur during mediation are confidential. All decisions or resolutions agreed to during mediation are made by the parent and the education agency, not the mediator. A mediator guides conversations and helps the parties to find solutions to disagreements. A mediator does not take sides or determine whether decisions are right or wrong.

The Center for Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Special Education, CADRE, has created several resources to support parents and schools with navigating IEP Facilitation which are available here for your convenience.

• Mediation Parent Guide, English
• Mediation Parent Guide, Spanish
• Considering Mediation, for School Administrators
• Video: Overview of Mediation
• Video: Preparing for Mediation