IDEA shifts responsibility for ensuring that educational programs are in compliance with the provisions of IDEA to state education agencies. These agencies are required to promulgate a complaint procedure that provides the following services:
- Receive and resolve complaints against state or local education agencies
- Review appeals from decisions regarding a local education agency complaint
- Conduct independent on-site investigations
- Set forth a 60-day time limit to investigate and resolve complaints
- Allow time extensions only in exceptional circumstances
- Review relevant information and issue written decisions
- Provide an enforcement mechanism
