What is SERC?
The Special Education Resolution Center (SERC) has been collaborating with the Oklahoma State Department of Education for nearly 20 years to help families and school districts resolve conflicts at the earliest stage possible. SERC provides services for children from birth to age 3 in SoonerStart and for students ages 3 through 21 in public schools.
The Oklahoma State University Department of Wellness – Sponsored Programs (DOWSP) is the lead agency for SERC.
What does SERC provide to schools, SoonerStart, and families at no cost?
- Training on communication and collaboration skills to help prevent conflict.
- An IEP Facilitator to manage conflict during contentious IEP meetings.
- A mediator to guide a structured process in which parents and personnel can resolve specific issues related to special education.
- A Due Process Hearing Officer at an administrative hearing to resolve, what could not be resolved at an earlier stage. During the resolution time of the process, SERC can provide a facilitator to help the parties discuss the hearing issues in a safe and structured setting and try to resolve them if possible.
View the What Can SERC Do For You PowerPoint
Which Dispute Resolution Process is Best for You?
You may be wondering which dispute resolution process would be the best for you when dealing with special education-related disputes. This dispute chart will help you understand the differences between the three processes offered in Oklahoma. Each of these processes is offered at no cost to schools or parents. Please contact us with any questions related to our dispute resolution processes. We can help you decide which process will work the best for your situation.
- View the English version of the dispute resolution chart (PDF)
- View the Spanish version of the dispute resolution chart (PDF)
Director’s Letter
Welcome to a new feature in the SERC Scoop! Starting with this issue, we’re introducing a Director’s Letter, where I’ll share updates, highlight key resources, and keep you informed about what’s happening at SERC. We hope this adds a personal touch and keeps you connected to our work!
As I reflect on my first year at SERC, I’m grateful for the strong foundation built by Jo Anne Blades during the previous 18 years, and am excited about the direction the agency is headed. SERC is approaching 20 years of supporting schools and families across the state, and it’s an honor to be part of this important work. The transition into this role has been extraordinary, and I appreciate the leadership and dedication that led us to this milestone.
We’ve experienced many changes in the last quarter, including a new office! After 14 years in our previous space, we’ve moved to a new location in Tulsa. While our address has changed, our mission across the state of Oklahoma remains the same—helping schools and families resolve disputes at the earliest stage possible.
We’ve also updated our website with new resources for facilitation and mediation, including flyers that provide a brief overview of each service and practical guidance to help parents and schools prepare for either option. Additionally, our new webinars feature panel discussions with those who have firsthand experience with these processes, offering valuable insight for others who may be considering a facilitated IEP or mediation.
To further support effective conversations, we’ve refreshed several of our tools to help with IEP meetings and communication between parties. Take a peek at our Stakeholder Training page to see the updates to our Communication Guidelines card, Asking Questions card, and Managing Difficult Emotions and Disengaging card. Each of these are designed to help navigate difficult discussions and to facilitate productive discourse.
As we celebrate these milestones, both personally and as an organization, I look forward to continuing this work alongside our dedicated partners across the state. Enjoy this edition of the SERC Scoop, explore our new resources, and as always, reach out if we can assist you!
Dr. Allison Conch
SERC Assistant Director
SERC Training Opportunities
2024-25 Wisdom Wednesday Webinars
Working together and through conflict to support students with disabilities can be challenging for parents and schools. Learn helpful information, tips, and techniques from the experts that can help you navigate through difficult situations.
Join us for this free 1.5-hour webinar series every month from 12 pm to 1:30 pm CST. Register today on our Wisdom Wednesday Webinars webpage.
Facilitation Trainings – Registration Open
SERC offers a one-day training to districts on facilitating meetings. The training provides an overview of facilitation, including facilitator qualities and skills, key functions of a facilitator, the facilitator’s role before, during, and after a meeting, along with a toolbox of practical facilitator strategies and techniques to use during a meeting. This training provides helpful resources to those who want to sharpen their skills and tools when facilitating difficult meetings, along with benefiting districts wanting to develop in-house facilitators for IEP meetings.
The training is offered in-person with regional classes in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. The course is from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm. This training is available at no cost to those attending through our partnership with the Oklahoma State Department of Education. Registration is made online. Course dates and locations with registration links are below. For more information, contact SERC’s Program Coordinator, Rob Keiter at rob.keiter@okstate.edu.
Spring Classes Open for Registration
Monday, May 5, 2025 – Tulsa Regional
Tulsa Area (see registration form for precise location)
Register for the May 2025 Facilitation training
Monday, June 2, 2025 – OKC Regional
Mid-Del Tech Center – Midwest City
Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue – Spring 2025 Classes Open for Registration
Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue is a nationally recognized training that helps people have difficult conversations that they are afraid to have or that aren’t going well. And the focus of the training is not just about communication – it’s about helping people get the results they want and need.
Crucial Conversations can help you in your conversations with:
- School administrators
- Special Education Directors and staff
- School Staff and personnel including general ed teachers
- Service resource providers
- IEP team members
- Parents and their advocates
- Organizations and family support personnel that work with children with disabilities
Right now, we offer in-person regional classes in Tulsa and Oklahoma. The course is taught over two days from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm each day. Attendance is required on both days.
Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue is available at no cost to participants through our partnership with the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE). Registration is made online. For more information, please contact Rob Keiter at rob.keiter@okstate.edu.
Crucial Conversations In-Person Training Agenda (PDF)
Spring Classes Open for Registration
Tuesday, May 13, and Wednesday, May 14, 2025 – OKC Regional Special Education Directors/Staff
Conference Room A at Mid-Del Technology Center
Register for the May Crucial Conversation training
Tuesday, June 10, and Wednesday, June 11, 2025 – Tulsa Regional Administrators
Tulsa Area (see registration form for precise location)
OSEP Guidance on Special Education Staff Retention
School districts across the nation are struggling to fill special education staff vacancies. This has impacted both schools and their students. Some states and districts have seen a rise in emergency certifications. They also face high turnover rates and training issues. The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), through the U.S. Department of Education, released the latest federal data on special education personnel in schools.
To address the above issues and support schools, OSEP released a “Dear Colleague Letter” on the importance of retaining special education staff. OSEP has also published articles for school leaders on keeping qualified professionals to serve students with disabilities. Take a look at these documents, and let SERC know if you need any guidance!
OSEP Guidance On Inclusion
It is the mission of the U.S. Department of Education to ensure all students have access to high quality and challenging academic standards. Since COVID-19, graduation rates have decreased for students in special education. Research has shown that low expectations for students show negative impacts in many different areas. To help combat this issue, OSEP has created the Building and Sustaining Inclusive Educational Practices webpage in order to encourage state agencies and schools to continue to uphold high expectations for all students for academic and functional success. Take a look at the webpage and additional guidance, and as always, let SERC know if you need any assistance!
Resources on OAAP and the Alternate Diploma
The Oklahoma Alternate Assessment Program (OAAP) and the Alternate Diploma have been topics of confusion and discussion for schools and parents alike. In order to keep parties fully informed, we have compiled guidance from the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) on the rationale as to why only 1% of students are considered for the OAAP, what criteria students have to meet in order to be considered eligible for the OAAP, additional guidance for consideration, and a recent webinar from SERC and the OSDE on the Alternate Diploma. Parents, check out the links to see if your child might meet criteria for the OAAP and learn about the ins and outs of the Alternate Diploma. Schools should use these resources as a guide to appropriately determine which students could benefit from OAAP/Alternate Diploma. Please reach out to SERC if you have any questions!
- OAAP Criteria Checklist
- OAAP Guidance Rubric for Completing Checklist
- Oklahoma State Definition of “students with the most significant cognitive disabilities” 34 CFR § 200.6(d)(1)”
- Archived Wisdom Wednesday Webinar on the Alternate Diploma
Follow SERC on Social Media
If you haven’t followed us on Instagram and Facebook, you’re missing out! Do you want to stay up to date on the most recent goings-on at the organization, including interviews with our service providers and a glimpse into the day-to-day lives at SERC? Do you want tips and tricks on bridging communication gaps and education for families and parents on dispute resolution? Surely you would benefit from updates on other special education news and happenings in the community that might affect YOU!
Give us a follow on Facebook and Instagram.
Contact SERC
For more information about any of the content in this newsletter, please reach out to SERC Assistant Director, Dr. Allison Fennell-Conch.
Phone: 918-270-1849 or 888-267-0028 (toll-free)
Email: allison.conch@okstate.edu
Special Education Resolution Center
5314 S. Yale Ave
Suite #206
Tulsa, OK 74135