Impartial Hearing Order Implementation

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The Office of the General Counsel's Special Education Case Management, Impartial Hearing Order Implementation Unit (“IU”) and the Division of Financial Operations, Payables Office are responsible for ensuring the implementation of all impartial hearing orders.  If you are an attorney, parent or parent advocate seeking assistance in getting an Impartial Hearing Order implemented, the below resources are available for your review.  

The Impartial Hearing Order Implementation Process

The implementation process occurs through a three-step process between two offices as follows:

Office of the General Counsel – Special Education Case Management - IU   

  1. The Compliance Team of IU reviews orders and creates action items for the NYCPS, outlining whether the NYCPS is required to provide a NYCPS program or service or to pay for a privately provided program or service. This team also supports the implementation of orders requiring the NYCPS to provide a NYCPS program or service across NYCPS offices responsible for their implementation. 
  2. The Account Management Team verifies vendor information and supporting documents and sets the funding parameters for private programs and services. This administrative function is commonly referred to as the "authorization" process. This team also handles payments for tuition and reimbursements.

Division of Financial Operations - Payables Office

  1. The Division of Financial Operations - Payables Office Team receives vendor invoices and processes payments for privately provided services based on the funding parameters authorized by the Account Management team in IU.

If you have questions regarding the status of services provided directly by NYCPS pursuant to Impartial Hearing Orders, such as:

  • Individualized Education Plan (IEP) meetings,
  • class placements,
  • issuance of Related Services Authorizations (RSA),
  • evaluations to be conducted by NYCPS staff, 

you may submit your inquiries to IHOIUManagers@schools.nyc.gov. The subject line of the email must include the student's name, NYCID number (OSIS), and impartial hearing case number. 

The Help Us, Help You/Payment and Authorization Guide is a step-by-step guide through the authorization process. It provides guidelines for submitting documents to IU. It standardizes practices, and the documents needed for the implementation of services and programs awarded at impartial hearings that are provided by independent providers. 

If you have questions regarding:

  • reimbursements or direct payments to a private school, or
  • seeking to implement an order awarding funding for a private service provider,

Please email IUAuthorization@schools.nyc.gov. 

If you are an attorney or attorney advocate, please be sure your assigned Account Specialist is copied on any communications with IUAuthorization@schools.nyc.gov. 

If you are a vendor and you have questions regarding billing and invoicing for privately provided services that have already been authorized by IU, please email IHServiceInvoices@schools.nyc.gov. 

Unrepresented Families

We are here to support you. If you have an impartial hearing order that requires implementation, please email IU as described above and include “PRO SE Request” in the subject line so we can ensure customized support. Please also include the IHO case number and student name in the subject line.

Contact Information

  • Sha-Keya Flenory, Senior Co-Director of Compliance and Community Support and Engagement, IU
  • Patrick Sullivan, Senior Co-Director of Account Management, Tuition and Reimbursements, IU
  • Norman Johnson, Team Lead, Division of Financial Operations - Payables Office

Forms

Trainings

Last updated: September 2024