Request special education mediation: next steps
Guidance reviewed 2026-10-11. Ask ODE to arrange a neutral mediator for an educational disagreement when both parties agree.
Start here: Identify the educational issues you want to resolve and review the ODE mediation handbook.
Where and how to proceed: full steps and checklist
1. Is this for me?
Parents and educational agencies seeking to resolve special education issues through voluntary mediation.
Service area: Oregon or applicable federal route; confirm venue and agency jurisdiction.
2. What should I prepare?
Some documents may be conditional. Ask about alternatives. Checkmarks are temporary and are not saved or sent.
3. Where and how do I submit?
Read the linked publisher instructions to confirm the receiving office, accepted submission method and current forms. This page has not separately verified those details. A county filter does not decide the correct court or filing location.
Timing: Scheduling depends on both parties agreeing and availability. Confirm separately whether any complaint or hearing deadline continues to run.
4. What will it cost?
Details to confirm with the provider
Fees and fee-waiver eligibility have not been separately verified for this route. Check the current provider instructions. For a court filing, ask the court about its fee-waiver or deferral forms.
5. What happens after I submit?
Details to confirm with the provider
Keep a copy of what you send and its confirmation or receipt. Ask the receiving office how to track it, when to expect a response and how it will request missing information. These follow-up details have not been separately verified for this route.
6. What if something goes wrong?
Details to confirm with the provider
Read any returned filing, correction request or denial notice promptly. Ask the responsible office for the correction, review or appeal instructions and the deadline that applies to your notice. This guide does not verify a route-specific appeal process.
Language, disability and offline help
Ask the receiving office about language assistance, disability accommodations and an alternative to online submission. Available options have not been separately verified for this route.
Mediation cannot be imposed on an unwilling party. The older linked PDF uses an older email domain, so use the current webpage contact or confirm directly before sending records.
Procedure steps, documents and printable checklist
Mediation cannot be imposed on an unwilling party. The older linked PDF uses an older email domain, so use the current webpage contact or confirm directly before sending records.