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DESOTO 73

DESOTO, Jefferson County, Missouri
★★★★★ Not yet rated by parents
👨‍🎓 2,464 students 📋 439 students with IEPs 🗣️ 0 parent reports ☎️ (636)586-1000
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These are parent-submitted experiences about DESOTO 73 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 DESOTO 73 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 DESOTO 73 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: (636)586-1000.

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 Missouri

Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary 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.

Missouri Protection and Advocacy Services
Protection & Advocacy — free legal help for special-education & disability rights
☎️ 573-893-3333 · 🔗 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 DESOTO 73 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 DESOTO 73

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

📰 Local newsrooms

Show within
The Leader
Local newspaper
9 mi
· 🔍 find “The Leader” online
Daily Journal
Local newspaper
19 mi
· 🔍 find “Daily Journal” online
Washington Missourian
Local newspaper
38 mi
· 🔍 find “Washington Missourian” online
KTVI (FOX)
FOX affiliate — TV
38 mi
· 🔗 site
KMOV (CBS)
CBS affiliate — TV
38 mi
· 🔗 site
KSDK (NBC)
NBC affiliate — TV
38 mi
· 🔗 site
KETC (PBS)
PBS — TV
38 mi
· 🔗 site
KPLR-TV (CW)
CW affiliate — TV
38 mi
· 🔗 site
KDNL-TV (ABC)
ABC affiliate — TV
38 mi
· 🔗 site
Riverfront Times
Local newspaper
38 mi
· 🔍 find “Riverfront Times” online
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Daily newspaper
40 mi
· 🔗 site
Belleville News-Democrat
Local newspaper
41 mi
· 🔍 find “Belleville News-Democrat” online
Edwardsville Intelligencer
Local newspaper
57 mi
· 🔍 find “Edwardsville Intelligencer” online
The Telegraph
Local newspaper
58 mi
· 🔍 find “The Telegraph” online
Phelps County Focus
Local newspaper
66 mi
· 🔍 find “Phelps County Focus” online
Du Quoin Evening Call
Local newspaper
73 mi
· 🔍 find “Du Quoin Evening Call” online
The Southern Illinoisan
Local newspaper
79 mi
· 🔍 find “The Southern Illinoisan” online
Southeast Missourian
Local newspaper
79 mi
· 🔍 find “Southeast Missourian” online
Centralia Morning Sentinel
Local newspaper
82 mi
· 🔍 find “Centralia Morning Sentinel” online
The Benton Evening News
Local newspaper
90 mi
· 🔍 find “The Benton Evening News” online
KRCG (CBS)
CBS affiliate — TV
91 mi
· 🔗 site
Jefferson City News Tribune
Local newspaper
91 mi
· 🔍 find “Jefferson City News Tribune” online
Mt. Vernon Register-News
Local newspaper
91 mi
· 🔍 find “Mt. Vernon Register-News” online
The Daily Republican
Local newspaper
94 mi
· 🔍 find “The Daily Republican” online

🏛️ Officials for Jefferson County

Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
State education agency — special-education oversight · MO
· 🔗 site
Office of the Governor of Missouri Mike Kehoe
Governor · MO
· 🔗 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