SpedEx

Consortium for Appropriate Dispute Resolution (CADRE)

SpedEx

SpedEx is a dispute resolution pilot project that is available after a hearing request has been filed. It (a) is designed to assure that a child receives a free appropriate public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment (LRE); (b) is voluntary and will build trust between parents and schools; (c) is expedient; (d) involves a jointly agreed-upon independent SpedEx consultant chosen from a list maintained by the BSEA, who can assist parties to determine the program the child needs to assure a FAPE in the LRE.

Settings & Use

Practice Setting(s): ESE has solicited and selected an administrator of the SpedEx Program, Dr. Alec Peck, Professor of Education at Boston College. Professor Peck will set up a database to administer the program, maintain schedules, contract with the SpedEx consultants, conduct satisfaction surveys, and develop data to assess the efficacy of the pilot project.
Has It Been Replicated?: Several other states have similar processes including Connecticut, Oregon and New Hampshire.
Annual Use: Limited funding (eight cases) for each fiscal year.

Resources Involved

Personnel: Use of an independent, neutral educational SpedEx consultant jointly agreed-upon by family and school.

Time: Placement of students by agreement is within 30 days with post-placement observation by SpedEx consultant.

Cost

Practitioner Compensation: SpedEx consultant fee paid by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Process Steps

Requests for this option after a hearing request has been filed will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. The parties are not bound by the consultant's report and recommendation. If the parties do agree, the hearing request is withdrawn and the SpedEx consultant observes the child in the program to assure that FAPE is being provided in the LRE. If the parties do not agree, the parties may pursue their due process rights. Decisions are made through joint school-family knowledge and cooperation.

Education, Training, Skills & Experience

Applications for inclusion on the list of SpedEx consultants will be accepted throughout the life of the pilot project (i.e., three years). Persons who may wish to be included on the list of SpedEx consultants must have at least a Master's Degree and three years experience in their field of expertise. In addition, a SpedEx consultant must (a) hold the appropriate license or certification in their area of expertise; (b) should possess an understanding of the legal basis of FAPE - a free appropriate public education - and LRE - least restrictive environment; (c) be prepared to review and recommend programs that meet the needs of the student, that is, provide FAPE in the LRE; (d) be able to maintain strict neutrality and work expeditiously to gather necessary information from all parties; (e) seek to promote dispute resolution through cooperation and trust between schools and parents; and (f) be willing and able follow up agreements with an on-site visit to the child in the agreed-upon program.

Research, Literature and Experience

ESE has solicited and selected an administrator of the SpedEx Program, Dr. Alec Peck, Professor of Education at Boston College. Professor Peck will set up a database to administer the program, maintain schedules, contract with the SpedEx consultants, conduct satisfaction surveys, and develop data to assess the efficacy of the pilot project.

Practice Author

Richard Connolly
Bureau of Special Education Appeals
www.doe.mass.edu/bsea/spedx.html
rconnolly@doe.mass.edu

Practice Continuum Placement

Relative to other practices in the CADRE Continuum, how might the above practice be comparatively considered from several vantage points? Placement of a practice on the continua that follow is approximate and subjective. For example, how "easy" or "hard" any practice is to implement would depend on the interplay of many (i.e., procedural, political, personal, systemic, resource, etc.) variables.

easy to implement

hard to implement