Facilitated Individualized Education Program (FIEP)
Individualized Education Program (IEP) Facilitation is a method of alternative dispute resolution that involves the use of a trained facilitator to assist an Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) committee in developing an IEP for a student with a disability.
The facilitator uses facilitation techniques to help the committee members communicate and collaborate effectively. Though it is not a requirement, school districts may provide a facilitator for an ARD committee meeting. The use of facilitated IEP meetings can be an essential part of assisting the ARD committee in reaching agreements that lead to educational programs with beneficial outcomes for students with disabilities. The Texas Education Agency encourages the use of IEP facilitation as an alternate means of dispute resolution.
Note: A facilitator is not a member of the ARD committee and has no decision making authority over the ARD committee meeting. The facilitator must be impartial and cannot provide input or an opinion in the development of the student's IEP.
A facilitator assists with the overall organization and conduct of the ARD committee meeting by:
- Assisting the committee in establishing an agenda and setting the time allotted for the meeting.
- Assisting the committee in establishing a set of guidelines for the meeting.
- Guiding the discussion to remain focused on the development of a mutually-agreed-upon IEP.
- Ensuring that each ARD committee member has an opportunity to participate.
- Resolving disagreements as they are encountered.
- Keeping the ARD committee focused on the tasks to be accomplished within the allotted meeting time.
Local Facilitation
Schools that offer IEP facilitation in accordance with TEC §29.10 must provide information to parents regarding facilitation, including a description of procedures for requesting facilitation.
The school may choose to use independent contractors, employees, or other qualified individuals as facilitators.
A parent who is interested in local facilitation should contact their student's school and follow local procedures to request a facilitator at their student's ARD committee meeting.
State Facilitation
State IEP facilitation has the same general meaning described above except that state IEP facilitation is used when the ARD committee is in dispute about decisions relating to the provision of a free and appropriate public education to a student with a disability and the facilitator is an independent facilitator provided by the Texas Education Agency.
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) website contains information about local and state facilitation in accordance with requirements of the Texas Education Code §29.020. TEA has established a program that provides independent IEP facilitators by request of school and parent. Both parties must complete the Request for a State Facilitated Individualized Education Program Meeting form and submit it to:
State IEP facilitation has the same general meaning described above except that state IEP facilitation is used when the ARD committee is in dispute about decisions relating to the provision of a free and appropriate public education to a student with a disability and the facilitator is an independent facilitator provided by the TEA.
Texas Education Agency
Division of Federal and State Education Policy
William B. Travis Building
1701 N. Congress Avenue
Austin TX 78701-1494
Fax: (512) 463-9560
Texas Education Agency
Division of Federal and State Education Policy
William B. Travis Building
1701 N. Congress Avenue
Austin TX 78701-1494
Fax: (512) 463-9560
Resources
(CADRE's mission is to encourage the use of mediation and other collaborative strategies to resolve disagreements about special education and early intervention programs)
State IEP Facilitation Request Form
