Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024
A. Resolution
Meeting
1. Within 15 days of receiving notice
of the parent's request for due process hearing, and prior to the initiation of
a due process hearing, the LEA shall convene a meeting with the parent and the
relevant member or members of the IEP Team who have specific knowledge of the
facts identified in the request for due process hearing that:
a. includes a representative of the public
agency who has decision-making authority on behalf of that agency;
and
b. may not include an attorney
of the LEA unless the parent is accompanied by an attorney.
2. The purpose of the meeting is
for the parent of the student to discuss his or her request for due process
hearing, and the facts that form the basis of the request for due process
hearing, so that the LEA has the opportunity to resolve the dispute that is the
basis for the due process hearing request.
3. The meeting described in Paragraph A.1 and
2 of this Section need not be held if:
a. the
parent and the LEA agree in writing to waive the meeting; or
b. the parent and the LEA agree to use the
mediation process described in
§1504
4. The parent and the LEA determine the
relevant members of the IEP Team to attend the meeting.
B. Resolution Period
1. If the LEA has not resolved the issues
contained in the request for due process hearing to the satisfaction of the
parents within 30 days of the receipt of the written request for due process
hearing, the due process hearing may occur.
2. Except as provided in Subsection C, the
timeline for issuing a final decision under
§1515 begins at the expiration of this
30-day period.
3. Except where the
parties have jointly agreed to waive the resolution process or to use
mediation, notwithstanding Paragraphs B.1 and 2 of this Section, the failure of
a parent filing a due process request to participate in the resolution meeting
shall delay the timelines for the resolution process and due process hearing
until the meeting is held.
4. If
the LEA is unable to obtain the participation of the parent in the resolution
meeting after reasonable efforts have been made and documented, the LEA may, at
the conclusion of the 30-day period, request that a hearing officer dismiss the
parent's request for due process hearing.
5. If the LEA fails to hold the resolution
meeting specified in Subsection A of this Section within 15 days of receiving
notice of a parent's request for due process hearing or fails to participate in
the resolution meeting, the parent may seek the intervention of a hearing
officer to begin the due process hearing timeline.
C. Adjustments to 30-Day Resolution
Period. The 45-day timeline for the due process hearing in
§1515. A starts the
day after one of the following events:
1.
both parties agree in writing to waive the resolution meeting;
2. after either the mediation or resolution
meeting starts but before the end of the 30-day resolution period, the parties
agree in writing that no agreement is possible;
3. if both parties agree in writing to
continue the mediation at the end of the 30-day resolution period, but later,
the parent or public agency withdraws from the mediation process.
D. Written Settlement Agreement.
If a resolution to the dispute is reached at the meeting described in
Paragraphs A.1 and 2 of this Section, the parties shall execute a legally
binding agreement that is:
1. signed by both
the parent and a representative of the agency who has the authority to bind the
agency; and
2. enforceable in any
court of competent jurisdiction or, by the LDE, through the state complaint
procedures.
E. Agreement
Review Period. If the parties execute an agreement pursuant to
Subsection C of this Section, a party may void the agreement within three
business days of the agreement's execution.
AUTHORITY NOTE:
Promulgated in accordance with
R.S.
17:1941 et
seq.