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Colchester School District

Colchester, Chittenden County, Vermont
★★★★★ Not yet rated by parents
👨‍🎓 2,463 students 📋 364 students with IEPs 🗣️ 0 parent reports ☎️ (802)878-2117
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These are parent-submitted experiences about Colchester School District as an institution, posted directly by parents. iep.tips is a neutral platform and does not verify these accounts — they are families' own statements and opinions, not verified facts or legal advice, and not a review of any individual employee. See something false or abusive? Use the Report link. Read our disclaimer.

No parent reports for Colchester School District yet.

If you've navigated an IEP here, your story could be the roadmap another family needs. Share it »

🛟 How to fight for your child's IEP — and who to call

If Colchester School District isn't giving your child the services they're legally owed, you have a clear, federally-protected path. Under IDEA these steps are the same everywhere — work them in order and put everything in writing.

Step 1

Request an IEP meeting — in writing

Email your child's case manager and the district's Director of Exceptional/Special Education. State the problem and the services you're requesting, and ask for a formal IEP-team meeting. Keep a copy of everything. District office: (802)878-2117.

Step 2

File a state complaint

If the district violated an IDEA rule in the last year, file a signed written complaint with your state's special-education dispute-resolution office (below). The state must investigate and issue a decision — usually within 60 days.

Step 3

Ask for mediation

Request free, voluntary mediation through the state — a neutral, trained mediator helps you and the district reach a written agreement. It's faster and less adversarial than a hearing.

Step 4

File for a due-process hearing

For serious disputes over identification, evaluation, placement, or FAPE, file for a due-process hearing — a formal legal proceeding. Consider getting an advocate or attorney first (see Protection & Advocacy below).

⚖️ Where to file & get free help in Vermont

Vermont Agency of Education — Special-Education Dispute Resolution
File a state complaint (IDEA), request mediation, or a due-process hearing
· 🔗 visit site

File a written state complaint within 1 year of the violation, request free mediation, or file for a due-process hearing. Start here if the district is out of compliance.

Disability Rights Vermont
Protection & Advocacy — free legal help for special-education & disability rights
☎️ 802-229-1355 · 🔗 visit site

Your state's federally-funded disability rights agency. Free information, advice, and sometimes legal representation for IEP and special-education disputes.

📚 Know-your-rights resources

Your legal footing: Under IDEA every eligible child is entitled to a free appropriate public education (FAPE) and an IEP built to their needs. Section 504/ADA also bar disability discrimination.

• Parent Training & Information Center (PTI): free coaching for your state — find your center »

• CADRE (national dispute-resolution center): cadreworks.org »

• U.S. Dept. of Education OSEP (administers IDEA) & Office for Civil Rights for 504/ADA complaints.

Tip: bring a written list of requests to every meeting, ask for the district's response in writing, and never sign an IEP you don't agree with — you can consent to parts and dispute the rest.

💪 Not just your child? Use strength in numbers.

If other Colchester School District families are hitting the same wall, it's a district problem — and numbers change the outcome. Send this page to your social-media contacts and Facebook parent groups, and ask other parents at drop-off and pickup: is this happening to you too? Gather the stories here so the pattern is documented. Once you can prove a bigger issue: wear matching-color shirts for solidarity, protest peacefully, pack school-board meetings, reach out to government officials, give interviews, and send press releases to the local newsrooms below to bring the media in.

See the full step-by-step » Organize an event »

📣 Take action for Colchester School District

Systemic problems get fixed when they become public. Below is local press near this district and the officials responsible for Chittenden County.

📰 Local newsrooms

Show within
WCAX-TV (CBS)
CBS affiliate — TV
3 mi
· 🔗 site
WVNY (ABC)
ABC affiliate — TV
3 mi
· 🔗 site
WETK (PBS)
PBS — TV
3 mi
· 🔍 find “WETK (PBS)” online
WFFF-TV (FOX)
FOX affiliate — TV
3 mi
· 🔗 site
Seven Days
Local newspaper
3 mi
· 🔍 find “Seven Days” online
Burlington Free Press
Local newspaper
3 mi
· 🔍 find “Burlington Free Press” online
The Burlington Free Press
Daily newspaper
3 mi
· 🔗 site
The Other Paper
Local newspaper
4 mi
· 🔍 find “The Other Paper” online
Williston Observer
Local newspaper
7 mi
· 🔍 find “Williston Observer” online
Shelburne News
Local newspaper
9 mi
· 🔍 find “Shelburne News” online
Press-Republican
Local newspaper
19 mi
· 🔍 find “Press-Republican” online
St. Albans Messenger
Local newspaper
21 mi
· 🔍 find “St. Albans Messenger” online
Lake Champlain Islander
Local newspaper
22 mi
· 🔍 find “Lake Champlain Islander” online
The Waterbury Roundabout
Local newspaper
24 mi
· 🔍 find “The Waterbury Roundabout” online
Stowe Reporter
Local newspaper
24 mi
· 🔍 find “Stowe Reporter” online
News & Citizen
Local newspaper
29 mi
· 🔍 find “News & Citizen” online
Franklin County Courier
Local newspaper
33 mi
· 🔍 find “Franklin County Courier” online
The Bridge
Local newspaper
35 mi
· 🔍 find “The Bridge” online
Addison County Independent
Local newspaper
35 mi
· 🔍 find “Addison County Independent” online
Northfield News
Local newspaper
36 mi
· 🔍 find “Northfield News” online
Times Argus (Barre-Montpelier)
Daily newspaper
40 mi
· 🔗 site
Hardwick Gazette
Local newspaper
40 mi
· 🔍 find “Hardwick Gazette” online
Times Argus
Local newspaper
40 mi
· 🔍 find “Times Argus” online
White River Valley Herald
Local newspaper
47 mi
· 🔍 find “White River Valley Herald” online
Adirondack Daily Enterprise
Local newspaper
49 mi
· 🔍 find “Adirondack Daily Enterprise” online
The Chronicle
Local newspaper
53 mi
· 🔍 find “The Chronicle” online
The Newport Dispatch
Local newspaper
56 mi
· 🔍 find “The Newport Dispatch” online
Caledonian-Record
Local newspaper
58 mi
· 🔍 find “Caledonian-Record” online
The Mountain Times
Local newspaper
62 mi
· 🔍 find “The Mountain Times” online
Bradford Journal Opinion
Local newspaper
62 mi
· 🔍 find “Bradford Journal Opinion” online
Rutland Herald
Daily newspaper
63 mi
· 🔗 site
The Vermont Standard
Local newspaper
69 mi
· 🔍 find “The Vermont Standard” online
WNNE (CW)
CW affiliate — TV
72 mi
· 🔗 site
Valley News
Local newspaper
76 mi
· 🔍 find “Valley News” online
Coos County Democrat
Local newspaper
80 mi
· 🔍 find “Coos County Democrat” online
The Post-Star
Local newspaper
86 mi
· 🔍 find “The Post-Star” online
Eagle Times
Local newspaper
89 mi
· 🔍 find “Eagle Times” online
The Chester Telegraph
Local newspaper
90 mi
· 🔍 find “The Chester Telegraph” online
Springfield Reporter
Local newspaper
91 mi
· 🔍 find “Springfield Reporter” online
Manchester Journal
Local newspaper
93 mi
· 🔍 find “Manchester Journal” online

🏛️ Officials for Chittenden County

Office of the Governor of Vermont Phil Scott
Governor · VT
· 🔗 site
Vermont Agency of Education
State education agency — special-education oversight · VT
· 🔗 site
U.S. Dept. of Education — Office for Civil Rights
Disability discrimination complaints (504/ADA) · National
✉️ OCR@ed.gov · ☎️ 1-800-421-3481 · 🔗 site
U.S. Dept. of Education — OSEP
Federal special-education oversight (IDEA) · National
✉️ OSEP@ed.gov · ☎️ 1-800-872-5327 · 🔗 site