Effective Communication Skills and
Negotiation StrategiesNegotiating With Your Child's School
Frequent and early communication with your child's teacher is essential in being a good advocate for your child. Good communication and negotiating skills are of great help when attempting to settle differences. Your attempts will be more successful if you:
-begin negotiations early
-focus on the specific issue of concern
-set your priorities, such as:
- defining the ideal solution to the problem
- identifying the concessions that can be made
- determining the legal support for the position
-anticipate the opposition, such as:
- identifying the system's position
- planning response to the system's offers by having a series of fall-back positions
- deciding what kind of data would be useful for a due process hearing if one becomes necessary
- considering creative solutions to achieve desired results
-role play the negotiation meeting
A negotiation meeting will be most effective when:
- an agenda is prepared
- seating arrangements are carefully planned
- one person is designated to speak for your party
- agreements are made only with those persons who have the authority to implement them
- only specific offers are accepted
If informal negotiations fail, formal action, such as filing an official complaint or requesting a due process hearing, should be sent by cerified mail. Formal actions include filing a complaint of a violation of procedures under IDEA, a complaint of a violation of Section 504 or a request for a due process hearing under IDEA. Your school district is required to tell you about your due process rights.
Effective Communication Strategies
Settling Disagreements
Communicating With the School
Communicating with Professionals
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