State Complaint Process
For school age students (kindergarten through graduation):
The Complaint Form is used to submit a formal complaint to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Bureau of Special Education (BSE) – Division of Compliance.
The link below provides access to important information about the complaint process for school age students. You may find this information to be useful before completing the Complaint Form, which can be found on the first four pages of the packet. The Complaint Form must be completed and signed before sending it to the Bureau of Special Education. Submission options for the Complaint Form can be found at the top of the web page linked below.
Bureau of Special Education Complaint Form
Access the State Complaint Form and Complaint Resolution Procedures on PDE’s State Complaints and Dispute Resolution page.
State Complaint Forms in other languages are also available on the State Complaints and Dispute Resolution page.
If you need more information about the complaint process or if you are unable to print the packet and would like to receive a complaint form by mail, please contact the Special Education ConsultLine at 1-800-879-2301, ConsultLine@odr-pa.org or submit an online request.
For students receiving Early Intervention (birth to age 5):
The Office of Child Development and Early Learning is responsible for special education programs for children birth to 5 in Early Intervention. The following link can be used by families for information on the complaint and resolution process.
Early Intervention Complaint Registry Form
Find additional information on the Early Intervention pages.
CADRE, the National Center for Dispute Resolution in Special Education, has developed a guide for parents about the Written State Complaint. The guide was written with the support of parent leaders from across the country. This guide was not developed by ODR and therefore does not include Pennsylvania-specific regulations and procedures.
IDEA Special Education Written State Complaints: A Guide for Parents of Children & Youth
IDEA Special Education Written State Complaints: A Guide for Parents of Children & Youth