The Bureau of Special Education Appeals (BSEA) released its Special Education statistics for fiscal year 2011 (July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011). A summary of the statistics is as follows:

• The BSEA received 8,348 rejected IEPs, an increase of 473 over the past fiscal year.

• There were approximately 809 mediations concerning special education and Section 504 matters conducted, a decrease of 5.3% from the 854 mediations conducted last year. 

• Approximately 86% of the mediations resulted in written agreements.

• There were 544 hearing requests files, compared to the 545 requests in the prior year.

• The majority of the hearing requests were either resolved prior to proceeding to hearing or after the state of the hearing but before concluding the process.

• BSEA hearing officers conducted full hearings resulting in 35 decisions.

• In addition to the 35 decisions, at least 51 substantive written rulings were issued.

• Of the 35 decisions, the parents prevailed in 7 (20%), the school districts prevailed in 22 (62.9 %), and both parties received some relief in 6 decisions (17.1 %).

• Of the 7 cases in which parents fully prevailed, the parents were represented by an attorney in 5 of the cases and appeared without an attorney in 2. The school district was represented by counsel in all 7 hearings.

• Of the 22 cases in which school district fully prevailed, the parents were represented by counsel in 9 cases, appeared without an attorney in 11, and were represented by an advocate in 2. The school district was represented by counsel in all 22 matters.

• Of the 6 cases in which mixed relief was granted, the parents were represented by counsel in 1, were represented by a lay advocate in 1, and appeared without an attorney in 4. The school district was represented by counsel in all 6 matters.