What Is Alternative Dispute Resolution? Link to this section
ADR is an informal way to address conflicts and disputes within IEP teams through the support of neutral, highly trained and independent facilitators who help IEP teams improve communication and come up with solutions to conflict. Through a grant from the California Department of Education, the SFUSD Special Education Services Department collaborates with Support for Families of Children with Disabilities and The Bar Association of San Francisco (BASF) to offer ADR services to families and caregivers of SFUSD students. Neutral, trained facilitators from the Bar Association, offer support for the prevention and resolution of conflict between parents/guardians and school district personnel. This process has been shown to reduce the level of tension and conflict between families and district staff who must work together effectively to support a child's learning at school.
How to request ADR Link to this section
You can request ADR services by completing this google form. Please provide as much information as possible on the form, including any specific requests for confidentiality, language or other accessibility needs. Lastly, if filling out the form is a challenge feel free to contact adr@sfusd.edu for support.
Have more questions about ADR - Check out our Frequently Asked Questions for more information.
Alternative Dispute Resolution Strategies
Link to this section
When a dispute between the District and the parent/guardian of a student with disabilities cannot be resolved at the school level, the District or parent/guardian may request Alternative Dispute Resolution. Depending on the circumstances of the dispute, one of three ADR strategies may be recommended. Participation in ADR strategies is voluntary and families are not required to participate.
Unfold the accordions below to learn more about each strategy.
Communication Strategy Session (CSS)
Provides support to individual IEP team members on communication best practices and effective collaboration practices and works with individuals to identify when higher-level ADR support is needed.
A Communication Strategy Session are an opportunity for thought partnership with a neutral facilitator. An individual or small group is able to meet for up to 30 minutes to discuss a challenge that any IEP team member may be facing. This conversation is confidential and topics may include wording of an email, other ADR strategies that may be helpful, conflict coaching, or any number of other concerns. The goal is to help improve communication between families and the school district, and shape constructive communications moving forward.
Collaborative Conference
Focuses on repairing relationships by addressing the root cause of breakdowns in trust and communication in order to repair and restore the healthy IEP team relationships that are essential to collaboration. This confidential and attorney-free process allows families and staff to build communication and rapport with other key members of their students’ IEP team.
A Collaborative Conference is a two-hour, confidential resolution session for disputes related to a student's special education support, particularly when the relationships between adults on the IEP team are compromised.
A trained facilitator leads the group through the conference. Participants share their concerns, and the facilitator ensures they are understood, and that with clear understanding, the group attempts to come to an agreement for moving forward.
Parents and school district personnel with the greatest understanding of the child’s IEP attend the Collaborative Conference with the goal of creating a positive, peaceable approach to finding student-centered resolutions.
If any agreements are made during the Collaborative Conference, a "Collaborative Agreement" is drafted, and signed by both the student's parents and an SFUSD administrator.
Preview the Confidentiality Agreement
Preview the Collaborative Agreement
Facilitated IEP
Supports IEP teams struggling with how to disagree respectfully, problem solve effectively or how to reach an agreement. At the facilitated IEP meeting a neutral facilitator from BASF ensures all voices are heard and helps the team restore a collaborative and productive approach to the IEP process. Note: Facilitated IEP meetings are on the record and are not confidential.
A trained facilitator will help draft an agenda for the IEP meeting in order to ensure that all concerns are heard and noted in an effort to move forward on the IEP.
Who are the facilitators? Link to this section
ADR facilitators are professional neutrals with the Bar Association of San Francisco's ADR Program which is entirely independent from SFUSD. They are certified mediators and have extensive training and experience in special education law, school culture, effective collaboration and communication, cultural humility, negotiation, and interpersonal relations. The Bar Association facilitators are not acting as legal representation for anyone involved in ADR.
You can learn more about the facilitators and the ADR Program on the Bar Association website - https://www.sfbar.org/adr-services-sfusd/
Benefits of ADR Link to this section
Free: There is no cost for participants to utilize ADR services.
Neutral: An independent Bar Association neutral facilitator guides the process to ensure fairness.
Relationship-focused: ADR prioritizes building and repairing relationships.
Supported: Follow-up with the facilitator is available as needed.
Effective: Proven track record of resolving disagreements successfully.
Convenient: Flexible scheduling and location options.
Empowering: Allows families to actively participate in a student centered and solutions oriented process.
This page was last updated on March 18, 2025