Level I Dispute Process
If a parent, guardian, or unaccompanied youth wishes to appeal a school district’s decision regarding school placement:
- The parent/unaccompanied youth must submit a request of the dispute resolution form to the district Liaison or the school where enrollment is sought within fifteen (15) business days of receiving the district’s notification that they plan to enroll the student in a school other than the one requested by the parent, guardian or youth.
- Within five (5) business days of the receipt of the complaint, the Liaison must make a decision on the complaint and inform the parent or unaccompanied youth of their decision in writing.
If the parent or youth disagrees with the decision made at Level I and wishes to move the dispute resolution process forward to Level II, the parent or unaccompanied youth shall notify the district’s Homeless Liaison of their intent to proceed to Level II within ten (10) business days of their receipt of notification of the Level I decision.
Level II Dispute Process
If the parent or unaccompanied youth wishes to proceed to Level II, the district’s McKinney-Vento liaison will provide an appeals package that includes:
- A copy of the parent or youth’s complaint which was filed at the district Homeless Liaison at Level I.
- The decision rendered at Level I by the Homeless Liaison.
- Any additional information from the parent, guardian, unaccompanied youth, or Liaison.
Level III Dispute Process
If the parent, guardian, or unaccompanied youth disagrees with the decision at Level II and wishes to move the dispute process to Level III, the parent, guardian, or unaccompanied youth must notify the district’s Homeless Liaison of their intent to proceed to Level III within ten (10) days of receipt of notification of the Level II decision. If the dispute remains unresolved:
- The district Superintendent/designee must forward all written documentation and related paperwork to the OSPI Homeless Education Coordinator, for review within five (5) business days of receiving notification that the parent, guardian, or youth would like to proceed to Level III.
- The entire dispute package including all documentation and related paperwork is to be submitted to OSPI in one complete package via hard copy mail delivery. Documents submitted separately from the dispute package may not be reviewed. It is the responsibility of the district to ensure the dispute packages are complete and ready for review.
- The OSPI Homeless Education coordinator, along with appropriate OSPI personnel, will make a final decision within fifteen (15) business days of receipt of the complaint.
- The final decision will be forwarded to the school district’s Homeless Liaison for distribution to the parent and local Superintendent.
- The Decision made by OSPI will be the final resolution for placement of a homeless child or youth in the district.
