Third Party Opinion/Consultation

To provide school districts (LEAs) and parents with an alternative means of resolving disputes and managing conflict at the local level.

Third Party Discussion Led by Moderator is a free service offered by the NH Department of Education since 2013. A non-adversarial means to discuss parent/guardian/LEA disagreements on a variety of matters including, but not limited to, special education.

Evaluative Conciliation Conference (ECC) is a voluntary process for parents and local education agencies seeking an independent assessment of a dispute related to the provision of public education to an exceptional child.

The SpedEx Program is a dispute resolution option that is available in certain cases after an IEP has been rejected or a hearing request has been filed.  SpedEx uses a jointly agreed-upon independent SpedEx consultant to review evidence and advise the parties on FAPE and LRE so they may resolve their dispute.