Mediation Services Coordinator, duties. List of special education mediators. Required training. Exemptions.

(b) The Bureau of Special Education shall verify that each mediator included on the list of special education mediators maintained by the Mediation Services Coordinator completes (1) not less than forty hours of training in mediation skills through a module or course that has been approved by the Department of Education, and (2) training in special education law for a minimum number of hours prescribed by the bureau through a module or course provided by the Department of Education or by another provider approved by the bureau. The bureau may, in its discretion, (A) waive the mediation skills training requirement for any applicant for inclusion on the list of special education mediators who submits proof of completion of a forty-hour mediation skills training or an equivalent course of study related to mediation skills from an institution of higher education, or (B) waive the special education law training requirement for any applicant who has sufficient and direct professional experience in special education law or submits proof of completion of a comparable course of study related to special education law from an institution of higher education. Each mediator approved by the bureau for inclusion on the list of special education mediators shall complete at least two hours of continuing education every two years in subject areas prescribed by the bureau which may be provided by the Department of Education or any other organization approved by the bureau. Each mediator shall remain impartial and maintain the confidentiality of any matter discussed during mediation. (c) The Bureau of Special Education shall exempt not less than five mediators who conducted special education mediation for the Department of Education prior to July 1, 2023, from the initial training requirements set forth in subdivisions (1) and (2) of subsection (b) of this section and include such mediators on the list of special education mediators maintained by the Mediation Services Coordinator pursuant to subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of this section.