For health and safety reasons, WSEMS now offers virtual mediations and facilitations as a way for the parties to meet.
An in-person option may be available. WSEMS follows the current CDC, state, and local health and safety guidance for in-person gatherings.

The Wisconsin Special Education Mediation System helps parents and schools work together to resolve disputes about special education.
We do not provide legal advice or advocacy for either parents or districts, and we do not mediate 504 plan disputes.

Who participates in mediation?

The state law states that the parents of the child and two people from the district can attend. This encourages parties to have an equal number of participants at the mediation table. However, the parents and the district are free to negotiate as to additional participants who could be helpful to the process. The district and the parents should give the names of possible additional participants to the mediator or the intake coordinator who can help the parties agree as to who should be present at the session. There should be no surprises on the day of the mediation as to who will be present at the mediation.