Complaint Procedures

Standard Complaint Resolution Procedure For No Child Left Behind Programs

This complaint resolution procedure applies to all programs administered by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education under the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB).

A complaint is a formal allegation that a specific federal or state law or regulation has been violated, misapplied, or misinterpreted by school district personnel or by Department of Education personnel.

Any parent or guardian, surrogate parent, teacher, administrator, school board member, or other person directly involved with an activity, program, or project operated under the general supervision of the Department may file a complaint.  Such a complaint must be in writing and signed; it will provide specific details of the situation and indicate the law or regulation that is allegedly being violated, misapplied, or misinterpreted.

The written, signed complaint must be filed and the resolution pursued in accordance with local district policy:
 
PUBLIC COMPLAINTS

The Board recognizes that situations of concern to parents/guardians or the public may arise in the operation of the district. Such concerns are best resolved by addressing them at the level where the concern originated through communication with the appropriate staff members. The administration has developed procedures for addressing those issues, copies of which are available at each building. Any concern regarding federal programs administered by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) may also be appealed to DESE or the United States Department of Education as permitted or required by law.

If a complaint has been made and appealed in accordance with administrative procedures, the parent/guardian or member of the public may appeal the issue to the Board by submitting a written request to the superintendent or the secretary of the Board. The Board will address the complaint in an appropriate and timely manner.

If the issue cannot be resolved at the local level, the complainant may file a complaint with the Missouri Department of Education.  If there is not evidence that the parties have attempted in good faith to resolve the complaint at the local level, the Department may require the parties to do so and may provide technical assistance to facilitate such resolution.

Any persons directly affected by the actions of the Department may file a similarly written complaint if they believe state or federal laws or regulations have been violated, misapplied, or misinterpreted by the Department itself.

Anyone wishing more information about this procedure or how complaints are resolved may contact local district or Department personnel.