Facing a Manifestation Review?
Schools can't expel a child with a disability without following strict MDR rules. If a meeting is on the calendar, get clarity before you walk in.
Prepare for the MDR NowMDR meetings are often scheduled within days of an incident.
Response commitment: submissions during business hours get a reply within 2 hours. Outside business hours or on weekends, expect a response within 24 hours.
Alan Driggers
Founder, The IEP Coach
Sound familiar?
- The school scheduled a Manifestation Determination Review after a suspension or incident.
- You were told the behavior "wasn't related" to the disability before anyone reviewed the IEP or evaluation data.
- The district is moving toward expulsion or a change of placement.
- Nobody has explained what MDR actually decides, or what happens if the committee gets it wrong.
What to do before the meeting
Request the meeting notice and data in writing
You are entitled to see what evidence the district will use to determine whether the behavior was a manifestation of the disability.
Review the IEP, BIP, and any FBA before you walk in
The MDR committee is required to consider these documents. If they were not being implemented, that matters to the outcome.
Get a second set of eyes on the file
A former insider can tell you, before the meeting, whether the district's process and reasoning will hold up.
Get in touch
Don't walk into an MDR without preparation.
Bring the notice, the IEP, and the incident report. We'll tell you exactly what the committee is required to consider, and where districts most often get it wrong.