CDE Closure - Frances Xavier Cabrini Day
CDE will be closed on Monday, Oct. 5 for the Frances Xavier Cabrini Day holiday.
Alternative Dispute Resolution
The Alternative Dispute Resolution Project at CDE
In 2013, the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) recognized, from parent and educator feedback, the need for more options to prevent IEP’s from moving into contentious and costly dispute processes AND result in better outcomes for students. The Alternative Dispute Resolution Advisory Board was formed to look at best practices across the United States in alternative dispute resolution and decide where Colorado should start. As a result of the Advisory Board work, it was decided that Special Education Facilitation was a highly promising practice that could work well in Colorado’s local control model. Use the buttons below to learn more about the project.
Special Education Conflict Engagement Office Hours
Special Education Directors/Administrators are invited to attend these office hours. We will discuss trends in the special education conflicts occurring within IEP Teams and strategies that can be used to work through them.
Each session will focus on a different topic and follow the format below:
- 5 minutes reviewing recent trends in parent phone calls and facilitation requests.
- 25 minute presentation on the session topic, including answering questions submitted in advance.
- 15 minutes answering questions raised during the 1st half of the session.
- 15 minutes moderated open discussion with attendees.
Directors will need to register in advance for each session. A list of topics is available by clicking on the registration link below. There is an opportunity to submit questions pertaining to each topic.
Dates & Times:
- September 18, 2026 – Developing Strong EDR Practices in Your District
- November 20, 2026 – Matching skills to conflicts
- January 15, 2027 – Conflict engagement in the age of AI.
- March 19, 2027 – What to do when the IEP Team’s history is the source of the conflict.
- May 21, 2027 - TBD based on trends
Registration
Registration will close two weeks prior to each date.
Register for Special Education Conflict Engagement Office Hours
Contact Katherine Rains, rains_k@cde.state.co.us, with any questions.
Additional Resources
- CADRE's Guiding Principles of Collaborative Advocacy combines highly effective communication strategies, facilitative behaviors, interest-based problem-solving skills, and most importantly, a collaborative approach to empowering students with disabilities, their families, and other advocates for the student to effectively navigate the IEP process.
- The Center for Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Education (CADRE) is a national center that has many resources for "Encouraging the use of mediation and other collaborative strategies to resolve disagreements about special education and early intervention programs."
- Working Together is a collection of CADRE video resources on Listening, Positions & Interests, and a Tale of Two Conversations that are designed to support effective communication and collaboration between parents, schools, and early childhood programs.
- Model Standards of Conduct for Mediators/Facilitators
- PEAK Parent Center
Our Partners Who Help Us Help You:
PEAK Parent Center
PEAK is Colorado’s Parent Training and Information Center. They have resources, educational opportunities, and direct support through their trained parent advisors.
Show + Tell
Show + Tell is a Community Parent Resource Center (CPRC) focusing on reaching underserved parents of children with disabilities, including those in particular areas with low incomes. They offer resources, workshops, parent advisors, and other sources of information related to parent and children's rights under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
(Denver Metro)
Disability Justice
Disability Justice is the Protection & Advocacy agency for Colorado. They work to protect disability rights and improve the human, civil, and legal rights of Coloradans through legal representation, advocacy, and education.
Contact
Katherine Rains, J.D.
Dispute Prevention and Assisted Resolution Supervisor
Exceptional Student Services Unit
201 E Colfax Avenue, Denver, CO 80203
Phone: 720-990-1464
Email: rains_k@cde.state.co.us