Decatur ISD Parent / Guardian Concerns:  Procedures 

In order to assist parents and students with concerns they may have, Decatur Independent School District has established the following procedures to assist in resolving concerns.

The District encourages students and parents to discuss their concerns first through informal conferences with the appropriate teacher, principal, or other campus administrator in accordance with Board policy FNG (LOCAL).

Concerns should be expressed as soon as possible to allow resolution at the most appropriate level beginning with the teacher or campus administrator closest to the situation. Complaints must always begin at the level at which the concern occurred.

If an informal conference regarding a complaint fails to reach the outcome requested by the student or parent, the student or parent may initiate the formal process described in Policy FNG (LOCAL) by timely filing a written complaint form. Even after initiating the formal complaint process, students and parents/guardians are encouraged to seek informal resolution of their concerns. A student or parent whose concerns are resolved may withdraw a formal complaint at any time. If informal attempts at resolution fail, the formal complaint procedures begin with a Level One complaint filed at the campus level.

Concern Resolution Process

Informal Attempt- Campus Level

Please schedule an informal conference/discussion with appropriate teachers, staff or campus administrators to share your concerns and what resolution you are seeking.  This can be done in person, by phone or by email.

Formal Attempt- Campus Level: Level 1

Step 1:

If informal attempts do not bring resolution, a Level One Complaint form may be filed with the campus principal. Complaints must be filed within 15 days of the date the student or parent first knew or should have known of the decision or action giving rise to the complaint or grievance. 

Step 2:

The appropriate campus administrator shall hold a conference with the student or parents within ten days after receipt of the written Level One complaint form. The administrator shall have ten days following the conference to provide the student or parent with a written response.

Formal Attempt- District Level: Level 2

Step 3:

If the student or parent did not receive the relief requested at Level One or if the time for a response has expired, the student or parent may request a conference with the Superintendent or designee to appeal the Level One decision. The Level Two Complaint must be filed in writing, on a Level Two Complaint form provided by the District, within ten days after receipt of a response or, if no response was received, within ten days of the response deadline at Level One.

Step 4:

The Superintendent or designee shall hold a conference within ten days after the complaint notice is filed. At the conference, the Superintendent or designee shall consider only the issues and documents presented at Level One and identified in the Level Two complaint notice. The Superintendent or designee shall have ten days following the conference to provide the student or parent with a written response.

Formal Attempt- Board Level: Level 3

Step 5:

If the student or parent did not receive the relief requested at Level Two or if the time for a response has expired, the student or Parent/Guardian may appeal the decision to the Board. The appeal notice must be filed in writing, on a Level Three Complaint form provided by the District, within ten days after receipt of a response or, if no response was received, within ten days of the response deadline at Level Two. The Superintendent or designee shall inform the student or parents of the date, time, and place of the Board meeting at which the complaint will be on the agenda for presentation to the Board.

The decision of the Board at Level Three is final. If, for any reason, the Board fails to reach a decision regarding the complaint by the end of the next regularly scheduled meeting, the lack of a response by the Board upholds the administrative decision at Level Two. Policy FNG (LOCAL) can be accessed through the District website at this link here. 

All details regarding these procedures are outlined in FNG (LOCAL) policy