Click here to download and view our Procedural Safeguards and Parental Rights document in PDF format.
Dear Parents,
Your child's education is a priority for you as it is for the staff at your child's school. You have a vital role to play in the education of your child. A fundamental provision of special education law is the right of parents to participate in the educational decision-making process. Worcester County Public Schools would like to develop a partnership with you in providing an education for your child.
There may be times when you may not agree with the school's recommendations about your child's education. Conflict, misunderstandings, and poor communications do sometimes occur. In the child's best interest, it is very important that these situations be resolved in a positive and productive manner. The first step in resolving concerns and conflicts is to address them with the staff member who is most directly involved. In most cases, this will be your child's general education or special education teacher, You may want to request a conference and follow up with a note identifying specific concerns, Of course, the school principal may be contacted at any time regarding concerns.
When disputes arise that cannot be resolved, you are encouraged to contact the Supervisor of Special Education for Worcester County Public Schools at 410-632-5034. If unresolved issues remain after attempts to resolve them informally, parents and educators can request a resolution session or mediation to resolve disagreements about a child's education needs. Another option for resolving disagreements, described in this booklet, is requesting a due process hearing.
You are encouraged to consider requesting a resolution session or mediation whenever communication has broken down or there is a dispute that can't be resolved. The focus of mediation is to find a solution that is in the best interests of the child. Mediation brings parties together to work with each other to resolve a disagreement. Mediation assists everyone to better understand differing points of view. An impartial mediator helps the participants communicate their concerns to each other. All parties are involved in the decision-making and everyone has an opportunity to express concerns and offer solutions. Mediation is voluntary. All parties must agree to participate and are in control of the outcome.
Worcester County Public Schools uses trained mediators from the Maryland Office of Administrative Hearings. To request mediation, please contact the Supervisor of Special Education for the Worcester County Public Schools.
An additional resource available to you is the Partners for Success Resource Center. The purpose of the center is to provide the skills and knowledge that will enable families of children and youth with disabilities and professionals to function as equal partners in the educational decision-making process and to assist families in accessing services for their children. The Partners for Success Center helps families and educators by assisting families to resolve concerns and make informed decisions regarding their child’s education. The center strives to foster understanding and communication between parents, educators, and the community on disability issues and issues related to special education. For more information or a brochure about the center, call 410-632-5234.
Sincerely,
Glen R. Hammerbacher
Supervisor of Special Education
