For Immediate Release: August 20, 2014
(Washington, DC) The District of Columbia Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) has changed the name of the Student Hearing Office (SHO) to the Office of Dispute Resolution (ODR).
“We are committed to finding solutions that meet the needs of both our parents and schools, but most importantly, the educational needs of our special education students,“ said State Superintendent of Education Jesús Aguirre. “ODR’s new name sends a message to our stakeholders that we our expanding our services, and our focus, to support schools and families in improving educational outcomes for the students we serve.”
ODR is responsible for the conduct of impartial due process hearings to resolve educational disputes for students with disabilities. As both a federally mandated and funded resource, ODR is also committed to determining solutions to disagreements through early dispute resolution activities such as mediation. Offered at no cost, mediation is a voluntary alternative that has proven to be highly successful for parents and local education agencies. OSSE will add facilitated resolution meetings to ODR’s offerings that provide an opportunity for parents and schools to resolve due process complaints prior to administering a hearing.
The name change comes as an effort for OSSE to emphasize collaboration between parents and the District’s public schools in order to resolve disputes that impact the educational outcomes of students protected under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
For more information on ODR, please visit osse.dc.gov/service/office-dispute-resolution-odr or call (202) 698-3819.
About the Office of the State Superintendent of Education
The Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) is the State Education Agency for the District of Columbia charged with raising the quality of education for all DC residents. OSSE serves as the District’s liaison to the U.S. Department of Education and works closely with the District’s traditional and public charter schools. For more information about OSSE, visit our website: osse.dc.gov.