Department of Defense Education Activity

CEDR Services

What we do

CEDR helps employees manage conflicts, including special education conflicts.The program offers the following services:

  • Listening
    Sometimes you just need to talk through a problem. CEDR personnel will listen to you without judging, help you understand your situation, and work with you to explore and analyze your options.
  • Mediation
    Mediators are impartial third parties with no interest in the conflict. Through mediation they facilitate a discussion between parties to a conflict, encouraging them to listen to each other and, if possible, to find a mutually acceptable solution.
  • Group facilitation
    A group facilitator—also an impartial third party—facilitates a process that will help groups to handle their differences constructively and reach better results, especially before a group reaches an impasse. Unlike mediation, the goal of group facilitation is not to reach a settlement but rather to improve the group’s problem solving skills. In addition, group facilitators share the process of facilitation with the group.
  • Training
    CEDR provides training to help employees obtain the skills and knowledge they need to talk productively with each other, with parents, and with anyone with whom they interact. Productive communication increases the possibility of using conflict constructively and decreases the likelihood of escalating, destructive conflict. Learn more.
  • Conflict coaching
    A conflict coach works one-on-one in a confidential relationship with the coaching client to develop the client’s conflict-related knowledge, skills, and strategies.
  • Special education services
    Learn more about CEDR's special education services (special education mediation and IEP facilitation)
What we don't do
  • Make decisions for people in conflict
  • Offer legal advice or act as an advocate for any individual or entity
  • Offer psychological counseling
  • Handle equal employment opportunity (EEO) issues; EEO mediation is offered by DoDEA’s Office of Equal Employment Opportunity Programs
  • Testify in any proceeding, unless required to do so by a court or other tribunal
  • Serve as a place to put DoDEA on notice of claims
  • Address private issues of DoDEA employees