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Your Rights in Special Education

The Department wants to ensure that all students who need special services are supported, and wants you to know about your rights regarding Special Education. There is a process in place to handle disputes and concerns. Please review.

​This page is currently under construction. Thank you for your patience. (Dec. 2022)

Mediation

Mediation is an impartial and voluntary process that can resolve issues quickly among disputing parties. With the assistance of an impartial, independent mediator who guides the process, parents and schools address special education concerns to resolve disagreements. Both the school and the parent must agree to participate.

The Hawaii State Department of Education makes mediation available through the Mediation Center of the Pacific (MCP). To request mediation, please:

1.     Submit a Request for Mediation form: bit.ly/MCPmediationrequest, or

2.     Contact MCP at 808-521-6767 or email mcp@mediatehawaii.org

The attached brochure, Special Education Mediation - Resolving Conflicts Between Parents and Schools, provides relevant information about using mediation as the first step in working through any conflicts between parents and schools regarding any aspect of special education. 

If there are any questions, please contact the Monitoring and Compliance Branch via email at specialedcomplaints@k12.hi.us or at (808) 307-3600.

Filing an IDEA State Written Complaint

According to 34 CFR §300.153 HAR §8-60-54, an organization or individual may file a signed written State complaint if the organization or individual believes the Department violated provisions of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA) and Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR) Chapter 60. 

To facilitate the process of filing a state written complaint, you may elect to use the model form available here: Special Education (IDEA) Written Complaint Form. 

Address written complaints to the Department’s Complaints Management Program at: 

E-mail address: 
specialedcomplaints@k12.hi.us 

Mailing Address: 
Complaints Management Program
Monitoring and Compliance Branch
Office of the Deputy Superintendent
P.O. Box 2360
Honolulu, HI 96804

Contact Information:
For more information regarding IDEA state written complaints, please contact the Complaints Management Program via e-mail at specialedcomplaints@k12.hi.us or at (808) 307-3600.

Filing an IDEA Impartial Due Process Hearing Request

If you want to file an IDEA due process hearing request to resolve an IDEA disagreement, please refer to this document: Request for Due Process Hearing. For more information regarding IDEA impartial due process hearing requests, please contact the Complaints Management Program via e-mail at specialedcomplaints@k12.hi.us or at (808) 307-3600.

Procedural Safeguards Notice Under IDEA

In accordance with 34 CFR §300.504(a) and HAR §8-60-59, schools are required to provide a copy of the Procedural Safeguards Notice to parent(s) only one time a school year, except that a copy must also be given to parent(s) during the following circumstances:

(1)  Upon initial referral or parent(s) request for evaluation;

(2)  Upon receipt of the first State complaint and upon receipt of the first due process complaint in a school year;

(3)  In accordance with discipline procedures in 34 CFR §300.530(h); and

(4)  Upon request by a parent(s). 

 

Special Education Directory

DistrictOfficePhoneFaxAddress
Honolulu      Farrington-Kaiser-Kalani
784-6680
733-4944
Honolulu District Office
4967 Kilauea Avenue
Honolulu, HI 96816      
Kaimuki-McKinley-Roosevelt784-6690733-4992
SBBH733-6720733-4992
Autism784-6710733-4992
Central  Aiea-Moanalua-Radford421-4263421-4145Central District Office
1136 California Avenue
Wahiawa, HI 96786  
Leilehua-Mililani-Waialua622-6432622-6428
Leeward        Campbell-Kapolei675-0335675-0350Leeward District Office
94-521 Farrington Hwy
Waipahu, HI 96797
       
Nanakuli-Waianae784-5696668-5748
Pearl City-Waipahu675-0384675-0006
SBBH675-0444675-0350
Autism675-0384675-0006
Windward      Kailua-Kalaheo784-5940233-5722Windward District Office
46-169 Kamehameha Hwy
Kaneohe, HI 96744      
Castle-Kahuku784-5940233-5722
SBBH784-5930233-5722
Autism784-5950233-5722
Hawaii      Hilo-Waiakea974-4535974-4588Hawaii District Office
75 Aupuni Street
Hilo, HI 96720
Konawaena-Kealakehe323-0015323-0022West Hawaii Regional Office
81-1080 Konawaena School Road
Kealakekua, HI 96750
SBBH313-3790933-0739North Hawaii District Office
45-3380 Mamane St., Unit 2
Honokaa, HI 96727
Kohala-Honokaa775-8895775-8898South Hawaii Regional Office
16-590 Keaau-Pahoa Road
Keaau, HI 96727
Maui    Baldwin-Kekaulike-Maui727-7700873-3590Maui District Office
P.O. Box 263
Puunene, HI 96784  
Hana-Lahainaluna-Lanai727-7700553-1725
Molokai553-1723553-1725Molokai Complex Office
P.O. Box 470
Kaunakakai, HI 96748
Kauai    Kauai-Kapaa-Waimea274-3504274-3508Kauai District Office
3060 Eiwa Street
Lihue, HI 96766    
SBBH274-3505274-3508
Autism274-3505274-3508

 


Contact Information

Monitoring and Compliance Branch

Phone: (808) 307-3600

Email: specialedcomplaints@k12.hi.us

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