If you believe that special education requirements have not been followed by a public school, you have the following dispute resolution options available to you: Mediation, Complaint Investigation, and/or Due Process Hearings.
This sample form has been designed for you to request a complaint investigation. If you need assistance completing this form or would like to discuss your dispute resolution options, you may contact the Texas Education Agency staff responsible for each option found on the last page of this form. Additional information about the complaint investigation procedures can be found on the Texas Education Agency (TEA) web site at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/special.ed/medcom/index.html.
You may choose not to use this form to request a complaint investigation; however, all the information on this form must be included in your written request to TEA. Requests for complaint investigations must be signed and sent to the following address:
Texas Education Agency
Division of IDEA Coordination
1701 North Congress Avenue
Austin, Texas 78701-1494
Fax (512) 463-9560
A checklist has been developed to ensure you submit all required information in order for the Division of IDEA Coordination to investigate your special education complaint.
Whether you use this form or write your own letter, you are required by law to send a copy of your complaint to the school district.
Note: A complaint investigation and mediation can be requested at the same time. If you request a complaint investigation and a due process hearing, your complaint investigation request will remain on hold until the due process hearing has ended.
If you need assistance in writing your complaint, you may call the Division of IDEA Coordination at (512) 463-9414 or leave a message on the Agency's Parent Information Line at 1-800-252-9668. For Individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing, TTY Number: (512) 475-3540 or Relay Texas 7-1-1.
There are five sections to the complaint form.
If you are requesting a complaint investigation for one student, you are required to complete section 1 of the complaint investigation form "Student Information." If you are requesting a complaint investigation for more than one student, skip section 1. Student Information and complete the rest of the form. provide the student’s complete name, mailing address, and phone numbers. Also provide the name of the District and campus where the student attends or attended school. The student’s date of birth is required for identification purposes.
In the case of a homeless child or youth (within the meaning of section 752 (2) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11434a(2)), provide available contact information for the child and the name of the school the child is attending.
The complainant is the individual or organization filing the complaint. The complainant may file on behalf of other students as a third party. The complainant must provide complete name and contact information.
The complaint must allege a violation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), its implementing regulations, Texas Education Code (TEC) and/or Texas Administrative Code (TAC). The violation that is alleged must have occurred not more than one year prior to the date the complaint is received at the Texas Education Agency.
You must describe in detail each act that you allege violates IDEA, TEC, and/or TAC, including when the act occurred and other events that are relevant to the allegation. For a complaint investigation, you must describe what documents would be helpful for the Agency to review. Finally, you must provide a proposal for resolution of the allegation or to the problem.
Section Four: Signature
By federal regulation, you must sign the request for complaint investigation.
Section Five: Notification for Complaint Investigation
By federal regulation, you must send a copy of the request for complaint investigation to the school district. Indicate below when and to whom you sent the copy of the complaint letter.
English Version
| Spanish Version
This version of the form has been designed in Microsoft Word for you complete
offline, print, sign, and send to the Texas Education Agency. The boxes on the
form will expand as you type.
If you require additional pages to document numerous allegations you can use
the following documents: additional
allegations (Engish).doc or additional
allegations (Spanish).doc
English Version
| Spanish Version
This version of the form has been designed for you to download, print, complete
by hand, sign, and send to the Texas Education Agency. If the white space provided
is not sufficient, attach your own pages.
Note: You are required by law to send a copy of the complaint to the school
district.
What happens after you send your special education complaint? See Complaint Procedures
Texas Education Agency | Division of IDEA Coordination
1701 North Congress Avenue | Austin, Texas 78701-1494
Telephone: 512.463.9414 | Fax: 512.463.9560
Parent Information Line: 1.800.252.9668
Last Updated: November 23, 2009 | Created: May 12, 2003
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