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Who Should Contact the Office of the Education Ombudsman
What You Can Expect from the Office of the Education Ombudsman
Confidentiality
When to Contact the Office of the Education Ombudsman
What to Do Before Speaking with an Ombudsman
How to Contact Us
Your First Phone Call with the Ombudsman
Advocacy
Working with the Ombudsman
What Happens After You Contact Us
Permission Form
Language Interpretation
Who Should Contact the Office of the Education Ombudsman
Anyone who has questions about the public education system can contact Office of the Education Ombudsman (OEO) to speak with an ombudsman.
Only students or parents/legal guardians of students who are currently enrolled or eligible to be enrolled in elementary or secondary public schools may request assistance of the OEO.
OEO does not provide legal advice or legal services, and cannot help with cases involving elected officials (such as school board members), allegations of educator professional misconduct, or conflict involving private schools, preschools, child care centers, private organizations, businesses, colleges or universities.
What You Can Expect from the Office of the Education Ombudsman
Our goal is to provide exceptional customer service and individualized attention to our customers. We will respond to you in a timely manner and treat you courteously and with respect. We will keep you informed of our progress and our efforts to achieve results.
Confidentiality
OEO treats all communications with those seeking assistance as private and confidential. OEO does not disclose customer information without permission, and does not do business via e-mail. The only exception to this is if OEO learns of information suggesting imminent risk of serious harm to an individual or someone being subject to abuse or neglect. OEO may be required to report this information to relevant authorities.
When to Contact the Office of the Education Ombudsman
In many cases, problems with public schools can be solved by following the school’s established grievance processes. If there are no conflict resolution processes in your school district or if you have made reasonable efforts to resolve the problem by talking to school officials and it remains unresolved, you should contact OEO.
We are unable to intervene in conflict resolution requests from someone who is not the parent, legal guardian or the student involved in the conflict.
Tips to Resolve Conflict with Schools
What to Do Before Speaking with an Ombudsman
Taking time to summarize your concerns and any actions already initiated will help you make the most of your conversation with an ombudsman. Here are some items for you to consider writing down before you call:
- What your concern is.
- What you’ve already done to resolve the issue. Include names and titles of individuals, and dates contacts were made, if possible. Have any supporting documentation or materials handy.
- Any obstacles in the way of achieving your goal.
- What your expectations are for the ombudsman.
How to Contact Us
All services provided by the OEO are free of cost. To request our services, do one of the following:
- Call us toll free at 866-297-2597 to set up a confidential appointment with an ombudsman. Our staff can access phone interpretation for more than 100 languages.
- Download a "Request for Services" form English or Spanish and mail it or fax it to us. Instructions are on the form.
To protect customer privacy, OEO does not communicate via e-mail.
Your First Phone Call with the Ombudsman
The ombudsman will listen to you and ask you some general questions, which may include:
- What is the situation?
- How does it affect the student?
- What have you already done?
- What can help improve the situation or solve the problem?
- What are you willing to do to help?
Advocacy
Ombudsmen are impartial. They advocate for fair and equitable processes that support student academic success.
Working with the Ombudsman
Ombudsmen are a neutral and confidential resource for resolving conflict that affects public school students. They offer independent assessments of the situation, research education laws and policies, provide coaching on conflict resolution techniques, explain the education system, review student records, contact school officials and recommend options to achieve results.
Provided all parties agree, ombudsmen may share information between parties, facilitate meetings, mediate or participate in discussions as a neutral third party.
Sometimes problems can’t be resolved exactly the way you would like. However, the ombudsman will do everything possible to help solve the problem or improve the situation.
Ombudsmen do not provide legal advice or legal services. They do not have the authority to force school or school districts to take a specific action, terminate school personnel or remove elected officials from public office.
What Happens After You Contact Us
After we receive your phone call or “Request for Services” form, we will set up a date and time for you to speak with an ombudsman over the telephone to discuss your situation.
Permission Form
While working with the ombudsman, you both may find it necessary to involve school officials in the problem-solving process. If this happens, the ombudsman and school/district staff will need your permission in writing before they can discuss your situation.
You can give your permission by filling out the "Permission to Disclose Identity" form in English or Spanish and either faxing it or mailing it to OEO. Instructions are on the form.
Language Interpretation
Ombudsman can access a language line with interpreters for more than 100 languages and coordinate a three-way call between a customer, an ombudsman and an interpreter.