ODE special-education mediation: request and preparation route: practical steps School & Education Oregon preparation and procedure guide Source review: 2026-10-18 Scope: Shared Oregon or applicable federal procedure; confirm local requirements ODE publishes a special-education mediation request form, preparation handbook and neutral-mediator information for IDEA disagreements. Who this route is for Parties seeking to resolve IDEA special-education/EI/ECSE disputes. Mediation arrangements require the other party's agreement; this IDEA route is not a Section 504 complaint process. Timing and notices Ask ODE about current scheduling and any separate complaint/hearing deadline. Requesting mediation does not itself verify that another filing deadline is preserved. Prepare (conditional documents may have alternatives) [ ] ODE Request for Mediation: parent/student and district/program contacts, issues to resolve, dated signatures and parent information-sharing authorization as applicable. [ ] Preparation suggestion: relevant IEP/IFSP, evaluations, written school communications and proposed solutions for the mediation conversation; these are not all stated as mandatory attachments. How to proceed 1. Check that the issue belongs to IDEA special education/EI/ECSE; a Section 504 dispute uses a different route. Read ODE's mediation handbook and linked request. 2. Complete and sign the request, including the parent authorization as applicable. Confirm submission with ode.disputeresolution@ode.oregon.gov; the older linked form prints a legacy email address. 3. Keep the request and ask ODE to confirm receipt. ODE forwards the request to the other party and, if they agree, makes mediation arrangements. Confirm all separate filing deadlines independently. Open official/provider instructions and referral route: https://www.oregon.gov/ode/rules-and-policies/Documents/mediationrequestform.pdf Limits: ODE's linked hearing information sheet states agreed special-education mediation is available at no cost to parents/district/program. This does not establish free private legal representation. The mediation form is dated 2012/2015 and prints an older email; confirm current receipt and do not assume a separate deadline is paused. Publisher sources Oregon Department of Education : Mediation : Rules & Policies : State of Oregon https://www.oregon.gov/ode/rules-and-policies/Pages/Mediation.aspx Evidence type: publisher-html-snapshot SHA-256: 2c4acd006519692e6b9b73073a86653794404dca502f23cfdad3f7b8ccbb811a Request for Meditation Form https://www.oregon.gov/ode/rules-and-policies/Documents/mediationrequestform.pdf Evidence type: publisher-pdf SHA-256: f7bffc9e7909d4245ae6bf40c2e95ad92082474e484a1ba58448ec4c2c243fe5 Due Process Hearing Request Information Sheet and Model Form https://www.oregon.gov/ode/rules-and-policies/Documents/dphearingrequestinfosheetmodelform.pdf Evidence type: publisher-pdf SHA-256: 89534122cbd7023961272849428bfa63f0c8d34ddb3d3ded77548b8f4d092b8e Oregon Department of Education : Dispute Resolution : Rules & Policies : State of Oregon https://www.oregon.gov/ode/rules-and-policies/Pages/Dispute-Resolution.aspx Evidence type: publisher-html-snapshot SHA-256: a81dc84992825fcef9e49991cdd801dc86e05df11672c66005266ef89a7e5c5f This site helps you prepare. It does not submit filings, calculate personal deadlines, decide eligibility or replace professional review. A complaint or help request does not pause another case or deadline. Start here Check that the issue belongs to IDEA special education/EI/ECSE; a Section 504 dispute uses a different route. Read ODE's mediation handbook and linked request. Where and how to submit Read ODE's handbook and complete the linked Request for Mediation, including signatures and the parent information-sharing authorization as applicable. Confirm submission with the current page contact, ode.disputeresolution@ode.oregon.gov; the linked older form prints a legacy email domain. https://www.oregon.gov/ode/rules-and-policies/Documents/mediationrequestform.pdf What will it cost? ODE's linked hearing information sheet says special-education mediation is available at no cost to parents and the district/program when parties agree. It does not establish free private attorney or expert services. After submission Ask ODE to confirm receipt and whether the other party agreed. Keep scheduling messages and review any proposed agreement carefully; no mediation date or settlement is promised. Corrections, denials and appeals The currently linked request form is older and uses ode.state.or.us, while the current page lists ode.oregon.gov. Confirm current delivery with ODE. Do not assume a request pauses a separate complaint/hearing deadline. Language, disability and offline help Ask ODE before scheduling about interpretation, disability accommodations and accessible documents. State what communication support is needed; a specific arrangement must be confirmed. Additional workflow sources (reviewed 2026-10-18) Oregon Department of Education : Mediation : Rules & Policies : State of Oregon https://www.oregon.gov/ode/rules-and-policies/Pages/Mediation.aspx SHA-256: 2c4acd006519692e6b9b73073a86653794404dca502f23cfdad3f7b8ccbb811a Request for Meditation Form https://www.oregon.gov/ode/rules-and-policies/Documents/mediationrequestform.pdf SHA-256: f7bffc9e7909d4245ae6bf40c2e95ad92082474e484a1ba58448ec4c2c243fe5 Due Process Hearing Request Information Sheet and Model Form https://www.oregon.gov/ode/rules-and-policies/Documents/dphearingrequestinfosheetmodelform.pdf SHA-256: 89534122cbd7023961272849428bfa63f0c8d34ddb3d3ded77548b8f4d092b8e Oregon Department of Education : Dispute Resolution : Rules & Policies : State of Oregon https://www.oregon.gov/ode/rules-and-policies/Pages/Dispute-Resolution.aspx SHA-256: a81dc84992825fcef9e49991cdd801dc86e05df11672c66005266ef89a7e5c5f