Michigan Administrative Code
Department - Education
Superintendent of Public Instruction
Special Education Programs and Services
Part 8 - STATE COMPLAINTS
Section R. 340.1853 - Investigation, report, and final decision of a state complaint

(1) The department and the intermediate school district shall investigate state complaints pursuant to part 8 of these rules, procedures established by the department pertaining to state complaints, and the federal regulations implementing the individuals with disabilities education act. The department may independently initiate and investigate a state complaint.

(2) The intermediate school district shall appoint a staff member, or contract with an independent agent, to conduct the investigation with the department. The intermediate school district investigator shall not have administrative authority over programs or services against which a state complaint is filed.

(3) The public agency shall cooperate with the department and the intermediate school district during the conduct of the investigation, including submitting documents requested by the intermediate school district or the department.

(4) The department, during the pendency of the state complaint, shall require any public agency against which the complaint was lodged to maintain the educational status, program placement, and services of an involved student as it was before the complaint if, in the judgment of the department, not doing so constitutes a violation of the student's due process protections.

(5) The department shall issue a final written decision within 60 calendar days after a complaint is filed.

(6) The department may grant an extension of time if exceptional circumstances exist with respect to a particular state complaint. A denial of an extension request is final.

(7) The department shall mail the final written report to the complainant, any public agency subject to the state complaint, and the intermediate school district.