Requesting Mediation

This short publication comes from a much longer Parent’s Guide that focuses on communicating with your child’s school via letter writing. There are times when you, as a parent, may want to communicate in writing with your child’s school about some problem or concern with your child’s education or well-being. Because the original Parent’s Guide was so long, we decided it would be more convenient to our readers if each of the letters discussed in the guide was also available separately, to make reading and printing individual letters easier.

This page presents a model letter or email you might write to request mediation as an approach to resolving a dispute with your child’s school

DISCUSSION

When would I make a request for mediation?

Anytime you have a serious disagreement with the school and you feel it isn’t getting resolved, you may request mediation. In mediation, you and school personnel sit down with an impartial third person (called a mediator), talk openly about the areas where you disagree, and try to reach an agreement. Mediation is voluntary, so both parties must agree to meet with a mediator.

There are benefits to mediation, both for you and for the school. One of the chief benefits is that mediation allows you and the school to state your concerns and work together to reach a solution that focuses on the needs of the student and is acceptable to both of you.

For more information on mediation, visit CADRE, the Consortium for Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Special Education, at:
http://www.cadreworks.org/

GENERAL LETTER-WRITING TIPS

When writing any business letter, it is important to keep it short and to the point. First, start by asking yourself the following questions and state the answers in your letter:

Why am I writing?
What are my specific concerns?
What are my questions?
What would I like the person to do about this situation?
What sort of response do I want: a letter, a meeting, a phone call, or something else?

Each letter you write should include the following basic information:

Put the date on your letter.
Give your child’s full name and the name of your child’s main teacher or current class placement.
Say what you want, rather than what you don’t want. Keep it simple.
Give your address and a daytime phone number where you can be reached.
Always end your letter with a “thank you.”

What are some other tips to keep in mind?

You want to make a good impression so that the person reading your letter will understand your request and say “yes.” Remember, this person may not know you, your child, or your child’s situation. Keep the tone of your letter pleasant and businesslike. Give the facts without letting anger, frustration, blame, or other negative emotions creep in. Some letter-writing tips include:

After you write your first draft, put the letter aside for a day or two. Then look at it again and revise it with fresh eyes.
Read your letter as though you are the person receiving it. Is your request clear? Have you included the important facts? Does your letter ramble on and on? Is it likely to offend, or is the tone businesslike?
Have someone else read your letter for you. Is your reason for writing clear? Can the reader tell what you are asking for? Would the reader say “yes” if he or she received this letter? Can your letter be improved?
Use spell check and grammar check on the computer. Or ask someone reliable to edit your letter before you send it.
Keep a copy for your records.

MODEL LETTER

Today’s Date (include month, day, and year)

Your Name
Street Address
City, State, Zip Code
Daytime telephone number

Name of person to whom you’re writing
Title
Street Address
City, State, Zip Code

Dear (Person’s name),

My son/daughter, (child’s name), currently attends (name of school) and is in the (___) grade in (teacher’s name) class. I am writing to inform you that the school and I are in disagreement concerning (BRIEFLY state what the disagreement is about). We have been unsuccessful in resolving this dispute, and I am requesting mediation so that we may resolve our differences.

I would like the mediation to be done as soon as possible. Please let me know when this can be arranged and send me a copy of the school’s guidelines on mediation. My daytime telephone number is (give your phone number). Thank you for your assistance in this matter.

Sincerely,

Your name

cc: your child’s principal
your child’s teacher

Note: The “cc:” at the bottom of the letter means you are sending a copy of your letter to the people listed after the cc.