Resolution Session

A resolution session is a meeting that federal law requires soon after a parent files a due process complaint, usually within fifteen days. Its purpose is to give the district a chance to hear your concerns directly and try to resolve them before a formal hearing goes forward. You and relevant members of the IEP team meet, and the district cannot bring its attorney unless you bring yours.

Think of it as a built-in off-ramp. Filing for due process does not lock you into a hearing; this session is a structured pause where a settlement can still happen. If you reach an agreement, it is put in writing and is legally enforceable. If you do not, the hearing timeline continues from there. In some cases both sides can agree to skip the session or use mediation instead.

Go into a resolution session clear about what you actually want to change for your child, and bring your key facts and documents. It is a real chance to be heard by people with the authority to fix the problem. Even when it does not fully resolve things, it can narrow the dispute and show you where the district is willing to move.