Maryland Families: How Mediation Can Get Your Child’s IEP Back on Track

Written By Alicia Baines

When you and your school disagree about your child’s special education services, mediation offers a powerful tool to resolve conflicts without costly litigation. In Maryland, multiple avenues—community mediation centers and the state’s dispute resolution system—can guide you to fair, informed, and legally supported agreements.

1. Why Community Mediation Centers Matter for Special Education

Community mediation centers offer free or low-cost, neutral, voluntary, and confidential mediation services to Maryland families. Here’s why they’re a smart first step:

Community centers partner with Maryland’s Family Support & Dispute Resolution Branch (FSDR), which ensures IDEA’s mediation rules are followed and provides referrals and technical assistance for parents statewide Maryland Public Schoolselevates.marylandpublicschools.org.

2. Mediation vs. Hold‑Harmless: When to Choose What

Community Mediation Center

Ideal for issues like:

  • When your school won’t include parent training, refuses a pending reevaluation, or missed services

  • When you want a mediated IEP meeting with facilitation, not an adversarial hearing

Formal Special Education Mediation (via FSDR/OAH)

Used when:

  • You’ve formally requested mediation or due process

  • You're dealing with eligibility, placement, or FAPE disagreements

You can request mediation before or alongside a due process complaint, and it won’t delay any legal rights Carroll Community College+12Montgomery County Public Schools+12msd.edu+12xminds.org+1msd.edu+1.

3. The Special Education Mediation Process in Maryland

  1. Submit a Mediation Request

    • Ask your school or district to request special‑ed mediation—or contact FSDR directly to obtain the necessary forms.

  2. Schedule with OAH

  3. Participate with Support

    • The mediator (an administrative law judge or trained neutral) assists both you and the school in finding solutions.

    • You may bring an attorney or advocate.

  4. Restore or Revise the IEP

    • If mediation succeeds, the outcome becomes part of your IEP and is enforceable.

4. Community Mediation Centers We Recommend (Free and Accessible Across Maryland)

Most centers serve all special education mediation needs or can refer you to FSDR. Contact the one nearest you:

  • Anne Arundel Conflict Resolution Center (Annapolis)

  • Baltimore Community Mediation Center (Baltimore City)

  • Conflict Resolution Center of Baltimore County (Hunt Valley)

  • Community Mediation Center – Calvert County (Prince Frederick)

  • Mid Shore Community Mediation Center (Caroline, Dorchester, Talbot Counties)

  • Community Mediation Upper Shore, Inc. (Kent & Queen Anne’s Counties)

  • Cecil County Community Mediation Center (Elkton)

  • Charles County Mediation Center (La Plata)

  • Harford County Community Mediation Program (Edgewood)

  • Mediation & Conflict Resolution Center of Howard County (Columbia)

  • Conflict Resolution Center of Montgomery County (Bethesda)

  • Prince George’s Community Collaborative Resolution Center (Greenbelt)

  • Community Mediation Center of St. Mary’s County (Leonardtown)

  • Mediation First (Washington County, Hagerstown)

  • Tri Community Mediation (Wicomico, Worcester & Somerset) msd.edu+5211 Maryland+5Autism Society of Maryland+5Wikipedia+6xminds.org+6Montgomery County Public Schools+6Maryland Public Schools+1Autism Society of Maryland+1CBFMaryland Courts+8Maryland Courts+8CBF+8

Also, you can visit Community Mediation Maryland for statewide resources and training opportunities, and MACRO’s Mediator Directory to find certified mediators by county mdmediation.org+6Maryland Courts+6CBF+6.

5. Benefits of Choosing Mediation First

BenefitWhat It Means for You and Your ChildLocal & FreeLess cost, easier to attend for busy parentsNeutral & VoluntaryNo forced decisions or public recordsFaster ResolutionIssues resolved without litigation delaySolution-FocusedCreates workable agreements tailored to your childConfidentialNo risk of private details becoming public record

6. How to Prepare and What to Request

  • Have your IEP, evaluation reports, service logs, and emails ready.

  • Write a clear statement of your concern and desired outcomes (e.g., more parent training, data collection, compensatory services, behavioral supports).

  • Ask for mediation formally via your school or FSDR, referencing IDEA and Maryland procedural safeguards.

  • Consider requesting facilitated IEP meetings if team dynamics are stalled (offered through Montgomery County’s RACU or similar district units) msd.edu+1Maryland Public Schools+1xminds.org+1Autism Society of Maryland+1.

7. When to Use State Complaint or Due Process Instead

If mediation fails or the school refuses to participate, or if there's a clear violation of IDEA (denied evaluation, missing services, no PWN), escalate to the state’s formal dispute process:

  • File a State Complaint with MSDE/FSDR (they’ll investigate and issue corrective solutions).

  • If necessary, file for Due Process through Maryland's administrative law system—note that parents bear the burden of proof in hearings msd.eduxminds.org.

Final Takeaway

Mediation is a powerful first step to resolve special education conflicts—especially for Maryland families.
It’s free, local, confidential, voluntary, and solution-oriented. When you know how to request it and prepare, you stand a good chance of strengthening your child’s IEP without the trauma of a legal battle.

Need Support Getting Started?

The IEP Files™ can walk you through requesting mediation, preparing documents, drafting your statement of concerns, and ensuring your rights are upheld every step of the way.

Alicia Baines
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