Office of the Ombudsman
The FCPS Office of the Ombudsman provides an independent, confidential resource for students, families, community members, and employees who are seeking informal help to answer questions, resolve concerns, and voice complaints regarding FCPS matters. The Office of the Ombudsman reports to the Chief Equity Officer.
The word Ombudsman means "representative."
What We Do
- Provide parents, students, employees, and community members an opportunity to share concerns and complaints in a confidential manner
- Relay information about FCPS programs, regulations, and policies
- Share ideas to help parents advocate for their child’s education
- Offer information and support to students and parents of children with disabilities, to help them understand and navigate special education processes
Examples of What We Do
- Sharing strategies for parents to improve communication with, and between, school and home
- Helping to resolve disagreements between parents and schools or disagreements involving employees in the workplace
- Providing ideas to foster parent participation in Individual Education Plan (IEP) meetings
When to Contact Us
- When you want help resolving an issue that affects student learning or the school/work environment
- When you want to understand how FCPS works or where to go for assistance
Contact us by using the "Submit a Question" button at the top of this page, or by calling (571) 423-4014 or emailing [email protected].
What We Don't Do
- Change or make decisions, policies, or regulations
- Take sides
- Provide legal advice
Parent Advocacy Handbook
Information and resources in the Parent Advocacy Handbook is designed help parents and guardians advocate for and support their children’s academic, social, and emotional growth from preschool through high school and beyond.
Our Mission and Vision
The Office of the Ombudsman supports the mission of Fairfax County Public Schools. We serve families, students, employees, and community members by:
- providing information about resources and how to access them,
- understanding concerns and providing support to resolve them.
The office follows the four principles of the International Ombudsman Association:
- Confidentiality
- Independence
- Impartiality
- Informality
Assistant Ombudsman for Special Education
The Assistant Ombudsman for Special Education serves as a resource, providing information and support to parents and students regarding special education services. It is the hope, that through providing transparency and understanding to families, children with special needs will receive all the services and supports required to equitably access public education.
The Assistant Ombudsman can support families in the following ways:
- Provide information and support to parents and students with disabilities to help them understand and navigate special education processes
- Assist by sharing information regarding state and federal laws and regulations governing special education
- Work neutrally and objectively with families and school staff to help ensure a fair process is followed
- Provide information related to parental role, as a member of the IEP team
- Serve as a resource for disability-related information and referrals to other available programs and services for individuals with disabilities, including early intervention and transition to post-secondary services
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