Dispute Resolution Procedure 

PLEASE REFER TO THE ATTACHED DOCUMENT (“Resolution of Disputes”) WHICH OUTLINES 
THE LEGAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF DISTRICTS TO NOTIFY 
PARENTS/GUARDIANS/UNACCOMPANIED YOUTH REGARDING WRITTEN NOTIFICATION 
OF SCHOOL PLACEMENT AND THE RIGHT TO APPEAL. 

A dispute resolution procedure was created in the first state plan and has now been revised to reflect the duties 
and required responsibilities of the LEA Liaison. Copies of this procedure should be available upon request to 
local service providers, parents of students experiencing homelessness and unaccompanied youth. This 
procedure will be used for all dispute resolution issues regarding homeless children and youth including 
educational placement. The procedure flows through the following steps. 

Note: The child or youth shall be immediately admitted to the school in which enrollment is sought, 
pending resolution of the dispute. 

(A) LEA Liaison Communication 
The parent, guardian, or unaccompanied youth will contact the LEA Liaison. At that point, it is the 
responsibility of the liaison to assist the person with prompt resolution within ten business days or assist 
in going to step B or contact a mediator from the Colorado Mediator Resource Network to support 
parties in dispute. There is nominal fee for the district and no fee for the parent or unaccompanied 
youth. 

(B) SEA Coordinator Communication 
The liaison will attempt to resolve the issue with the LEA by following the district dispute policy. If the 
dispute is not resolved at this point, the liaison will contact the State Coordinator for the Education of 
Homeless Children and Youth. The State Coordinator will attempt to resolve the conflict informally 
through communication with the LEA, the LEA Liaison, and the affected party(ies). 

(C) Formal Complaint 
If the State Coordinator is unable to resolve this conflict within 15 business days, then the parent, 
guardian, or unaccompanied youth may file a written complaint to the State Coordinator. A team 
consultation (State Coordinator, Prevention Initiatives Supervisor, and the Prevention Initiatives 
Director) will review the complaint with the mandates of the Title X law. The decision will be made 
within 15 business days and the written decision will be mailed to all parties by registered mail. 

The Dispute Report Form should be used during the resolution process. This form and procedure may 
be downloaded from the Colorado Department of Education website. 

http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdeprevention/pihomeless.htm 



01/2006 


McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance 
Dispute Resolution Form


School District Liaison 

Email Address: Telephone 

Date of first contact by student, parent, guardian, or representative 
Name of Student 
Describe the issue(s) in question: 

Other School District Contacts w/phone numbers: 
(Principal, Superintendent, or other individuals involved)) 

Date (send to CDE within 10 business days) 

Check 
applicable 
Resolution at School District Level (describe below)* 
Unresolved and forwarded to State Coordinator – Dana Scott, (303-866-6930, or fax 303866-6785) -- E-mail: scott_d@cde.state.co.us 
A mediator from the Mediator Resource Network was utilized in the process 

*Describe Resolution Results: 

District Homeless Liaison Signature _________________________________________________________ 

This form must be filed with: 

The State Coordinator for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth 
Prevention Initiatives Unit, Colorado Department of Education 
201 E. Colfax Avenue 
Denver, Colorado 80203