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34 C.F.R. §§ 303.440–303.445

6 sections in range

§303.440. Filing a due process complaint.

34 C.F.R. § 303.440

(a)
General.
(1)
A parent, EIS provider, or a lead agency may file a due process complaint on any of the matters described in § 303.421(a), relating to the identification, evaluation, or placement of a child, or the provision of early intervention services to the infant or toddler with a disability and his or her family under part C of the Act.
(2)
The due process complaint must allege a violation that occurred not more than two years before the date the parent or EIS provider knew, or should have known, about the alleged action that forms the basis of the due process complaint, or, if the State has an explicit time limitation for filing a due process complaint under this part, in the time allowed by that State law, except that the exceptions to the timeline described in § 303.443(f) apply to the timeline in this section.
(b)
Information for parents. The lead agency must inform the parent of any free or low-cost legal and other relevant services available in the area if—
(1)
The parent requests the information; or
(2)
The parent or EIS provider files a due process complaint under this section.
(c)
Timeline for Resolution. The lead agency may adopt a 30- or 45-day timeline, subject to § 303.447(a), for the resolution of due process complaints and must specify in its written policies and procedures under § 303.123 and in its prior written notice under § 303.421, the specific timeline it has adopted.
Notes, amendments, and revision history

Authority

Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1431 through 1444, unless otherwise noted.

Source

Source: 76 FR 60244, Sept. 28, 2011, unless otherwise noted.

§303.441. Due process complaint.

34 C.F.R. § 303.441

(a)
General.
(1)
The lead agency must have procedures that require either party, or the attorney representing a party, to provide to the other party a due process complaint (which must remain confidential).
(2)
The party filing a due process complaint must forward a copy of the due process complaint to the lead agency.
(b)
Content of complaint. The due process complaint required in paragraph (a)(1) of this section must include—
(1)
The name of the child;
(2)
The address of the residence of the child;
(3)
The name of the EIS provider serving the child;
(4)
In the case of a homeless child (within the meaning of section 725(2) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11434a(2)), available contact information for the child, and the name of the EIS provider serving the child;
(5)
A description of the nature of the problem of the child relating to the proposed or refused initiation or change, including facts relating to the problem; and
(6)
A proposed resolution of the problem to the extent known and available to the party at the time.
(c)
Notice required before a hearing on a due process complaint. A party may not have a hearing on a due process complaint until the party, or the attorney representing the party, files a due process complaint that meets the requirements of paragraph (b) of this section.
(d)
Sufficiency of complaint.
(1)
The due process complaint required by this section must be deemed sufficient unless the party receiving the due process complaint notifies the hearing officer and the other party in writing, within 15 days of receipt of the due process complaint, that the receiving party believes the due process complaint does not meet the requirements in paragraph (b) of this section.
(2)
Within five days of receipt of notification under paragraph (d)(1) of this section, the hearing officer must make a determination on the face of the due process complaint of whether the due process complaint meets the requirements in paragraph (b) of this section, and must immediately notify the parties in writing of that determination.
(3)
A party may amend its due process complaint only if—
(i)
The other party consents in writing to the amendment and is given the opportunity to resolve the due process complaint through a meeting held pursuant to § 303.442; or
(ii)
The hearing officer grants permission, except that the hearing officer may only grant permission to amend at any time not later than five days before the due process hearing begins.
(4)
If a party files an amended due process complaint, the timelines for the resolution meeting in § 303.442(a) and the time period to resolve in § 303.442(b) begin again with the filing of the amended due process complaint.
(e)
Lead agency response to a due process complaint.
(1)
If the lead agency has not sent a prior written notice under § 303.421 to the parent regarding the subject matter contained in the parent's due process complaint, the lead agency or EIS provider must, within 10 days of receiving the due process complaint, send to the parent a response that includes—
(i)
An explanation of why the lead agency or EIS provider proposed or refused to take the action raised in the due process complaint;
(ii)
A description of other options that the IFSP Team considered and the reasons why those options were rejected;
(iii)
A description of each evaluation procedure, assessment, record, or report the lead agency or EIS provider used as the basis for the proposed or refused action; and
(iv)
A description of the other factors that are relevant to the agency's or EIS provider's proposed or refused action.
(2)
A response by the lead agency under paragraph (e)(1) of this section does not preclude the lead agency from asserting that the parent's due process complaint was insufficient, where appropriate.
(f)
Other party response to a due process complaint. Except as provided in paragraph (e) of this section, the party receiving a due process complaint must, within 10 days of receiving the due process complaint, send to the other party a response that specifically addresses the issues raised in the due process complaint.
Notes, amendments, and revision history

Authority

Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1431 through 1444, unless otherwise noted.

Source

Source: 76 FR 60244, Sept. 28, 2011, unless otherwise noted.

§303.442. Resolution process.

34 C.F.R. § 303.442

(a)
Resolution meeting.
(1)
Within 15 days of receiving notice of the parent's due process complaint, and prior to the initiation of a due process hearing under § 303.443, the lead agency must convene a meeting with the parent and the relevant member or members of the IFSP Team who have specific knowledge of the facts identified in the due process complaint that—
(i)
Includes a representative of the lead agency who has decision-making authority on behalf of that agency; and
(ii)
May not include an attorney of the lead agency unless the parent is accompanied by an attorney.
(2)
The purpose of the resolution meeting is for the parent of the child to discuss the due process complaint, and the facts that form the basis of the due process complaint, so that the lead agency has the opportunity to resolve the dispute that is the basis for the due process complaint.
(3)
The meeting described in paragraphs (a)(1) and (a)(2) of this section need not be held if—
(i)
The parent and lead agency agree in writing to waive the meeting; or
(ii)
The parent and lead agency agree to use the mediation process described in § 303.431.
(4)
The parent and the lead agency must determine the relevant members of the IFSP Team to attend the meeting.
(b)
Resolution period.
(1)
If the lead agency has not resolved the due process complaint to the satisfaction of the parties within 30 days of the receipt of the due process complaint, the due process hearing may occur.
(2)
Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, the timeline for issuing a final decision under § 303.447 begins at the expiration of the 30-day period in paragraph (b)(1) of this section.
(3)
Except where the parties have jointly agreed to waive the resolution process or to use mediation, notwithstanding paragraphs (b)(1) and (b)(2) of this section, the failure of the parent filing a due process complaint to participate in the resolution meeting will delay the timelines for the resolution process and due process hearing until the meeting is held.
(4)
If the lead agency is unable to obtain the participation of the parent in the resolution meeting after reasonable efforts have been made, including documenting its efforts, the lead agency may, at the conclusion of the 30-day period, request that the hearing officer dismiss the parent's due process complaint.
(5)
If the lead agency fails to hold the resolution meeting specified in paragraph (a) of this section within 15 days of receiving notice of a parent's due process complaint or fails to participate in the resolution meeting, the parent may seek the intervention of a hearing officer to begin the due process hearing timeline.
(c)
Adjustments to 30-day resolution period. The 30- or 45-day timeline adopted by the lead agency under § 303.440(c) for the due process hearing described in § 303.447(a) starts the day after one of the following events:
(1)
Both parties agree in writing to waive the resolution meeting.
(2)
After either the mediation or resolution meeting starts but before the end of the 30-day period, the parties agree in writing that no agreement is possible.
(3)
If both parties agree in writing to continue the mediation at the end of the 30-day resolution period, but later, the parent or lead agency withdraws from the mediation process.
(d)
Written settlement agreement. If a resolution to the dispute is reached at the meeting described in paragraphs (a)(1) and (a)(2) of this section, the parties must execute a legally binding agreement that is—
(1)
Signed by both the parent and a representative of the lead agency who has the authority to bind the agency; and
(2)
Enforceable in any State court of competent jurisdiction or in a district court of the United States, or, by the lead agency, if the State has other mechanisms or procedures that permit parties to seek enforcement of resolution agreements pursuant to this section.
(e)
Agreement review period. If the parties execute an agreement pursuant to paragraph (d) of this section, a party may void the agreement within three business days of the agreement's execution.
Notes, amendments, and revision history

Authority

Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1431 through 1444, unless otherwise noted.

Source

Source: 76 FR 60244, Sept. 28, 2011, unless otherwise noted.

§303.443. Impartial due process hearing.

34 C.F.R. § 303.443

(a)
General. Whenever a due process complaint is received consistent with § 303.440, the parents or the EIS provider involved in the dispute must have an opportunity for an impartial due process hearing, consistent with the procedures in §§ 303.440 through 303.442.
(b)
Agency responsible for conducting the due process hearing. The hearing described in paragraph (a) of this section must be conducted by the lead agency directly responsible for the early intervention services of the infant or toddler, as determined under State statute, State regulation, or a written policy of the lead agency.
(c)
Impartial hearing officer.
(1)
At a minimum, a hearing officer—
(i)
Must not be—
(A)
An employee of the lead agency or the EIS provider that is involved in the early intervention services or care of the infant or toddler; or
(B)
A person having a personal or professional interest that conflicts with the person's objectivity in the hearing;
(ii)
Must possess knowledge of, and the ability to understand, the provisions of the Act, Federal and State regulations pertaining to the Act, and legal interpretations of the Act by Federal and State courts;
(iii)
Must possess the knowledge and ability to conduct hearings in accordance with appropriate, standard legal practice; and
(iv)
Must possess the knowledge and ability to render and write decisions in accordance with appropriate, standard legal practice.
(2)
A person who otherwise qualifies to conduct a hearing under paragraph (c)(1) of this section is not an employee of the agency solely because he or she is paid by the agency to serve as a hearing officer.
(3)
Each lead agency must keep a list of the persons who serve as hearing officers. The list must include a statement of the qualifications of each of those persons.
(d)
Subject matter of due process hearings. The party requesting the due process hearing may not raise issues at the due process hearing that were not raised in the due process complaint filed under § 303.441(b), unless the other party agrees otherwise.
(e)
Timeline for requesting a hearing. A parent, lead agency, or EIS provider must request an impartial hearing on their due process complaint within two years of the date the parent, lead agency, or EIS provider knew or should have known about the alleged action that forms the basis of the due process complaint, or if the State has an explicit time limitation for requesting such a due process hearing under this part, in the time allowed by that State law.
(f)
Exceptions to the timeline. The timeline described in paragraph (e) of this section does not apply to a parent if the parent was prevented from filing a due process complaint due to—
(1)
Specific misrepresentations by the lead agency or EIS provider that it had resolved the problem forming the basis of the due process complaint; or
(2)
The lead agency's or EIS provider's failure to provide the parent information that was required under this part to be provided to the parent.
Notes, amendments, and revision history

Authority

Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1431 through 1444, unless otherwise noted.

Source

Source: 76 FR 60244, Sept. 28, 2011, unless otherwise noted.

§303.444. Hearing rights.

34 C.F.R. § 303.444

(a)
General. Any party to a hearing conducted pursuant to §§ 303.440 through 303.445, or an appeal conducted pursuant to § 303.446, has the right to—
(1)
Be accompanied and advised by counsel and by individuals with special knowledge or training with respect to the problems of infants or toddlers with disabilities;
(2)
Present evidence and confront, cross-examine, and compel the attendance of witnesses;
(3)
Prohibit the introduction of any evidence at the hearing that has not been disclosed to that party at least five business days before the hearing;
(4)
Obtain a written or, at the option of the parents, electronic, verbatim record of the hearing; and
(5)
Obtain written or, at the option of the parents, electronic findings of fact and decisions.
(b)
Additional disclosure of information.
(1)
At least five business days prior to a hearing conducted pursuant to § 303.443(a), each party must disclose to all other parties all evaluations completed by that date and recommendations based on the offering party's evaluations that the party intends to use at the hearing.
(2)
A hearing officer may bar any party that fails to comply with paragraph (b)(1) of this section from introducing the relevant evaluation or recommendation at the hearing without the consent of the other party.
(c)
Parental rights at hearings. Parents involved in hearings must—
(1)
Be given the right to open the hearing to the public; and
(2)
Receive a copy of the record of the hearing and the findings of fact and decisions described in paragraphs (a)(4) and (a)(5) of this section at no cost.
Notes, amendments, and revision history

Authority

Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1431 through 1444, unless otherwise noted.

Source

Source: 76 FR 60244, Sept. 28, 2011, unless otherwise noted.

§303.445. Hearing decisions.

34 C.F.R. § 303.445

(a)
Decision of hearing officer.
(1)
Subject to paragraph (a)(2) of this section, a hearing officer's determination of whether an infant or toddler was appropriately identified, evaluated, or placed, or whether the infant or toddler with a disability and his or her family were appropriately provided early intervention services under part C of the Act, must be based on substantive grounds.
(2)
In matters alleging a procedural violation, a hearing officer may find that a child was not appropriately identified, evaluated, placed, or provided early intervention services under part C of the Act only if the procedural inadequacies—
(i)
Impeded the child's right to identification, evaluation, and placement or provision of early intervention services for the child and that child's family under part C of the Act;
(ii)
Significantly impeded the parent's opportunity to participate in the decision-making process regarding identification, evaluation, placement or provision of early intervention services for the child and that child's family under part C of the Act; or
(iii)
Caused a deprivation of educational or developmental benefit.
(3)
Nothing in paragraph (a) of this section precludes a hearing officer from ordering the lead agency or EIS provider to comply with procedural requirements under §§ 303.400 through 303.449.
(b)
Construction clause. Nothing in §§ 303.440 through 303.445 affects the right of a parent to file an appeal of the due process hearing decision with the lead agency under § 303.446(b), if the lead agency level appeal is available.
(c)
Separate due process complaint. Nothing in §§ 303.440 through 303.449 precludes a parent from filing a separate due process complaint on an issue separate from a due process complaint already filed.
(d)
Findings and decisions to general public. The lead agency, after deleting any personally identifiable information, must make the findings and decisions available to the public.
Notes, amendments, and revision history

Authority

Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1431 through 1444, unless otherwise noted.

Source

Source: 76 FR 60244, Sept. 28, 2011, unless otherwise noted.