{"data":{"id":"us-dc/d.c.-code-38-356","jurisdiction":"us-dc","citation":"D.C. Code § 38-356","heading":"Complaint resolution services.","body":"(a)\nThe Office of Ombudsman shall provide complaint resolution services, which shall be available to current and prospective public school students and their parents or guardians.\n\n(b)\nParticipation in complaint resolution services provided by the Office of Ombudsman shall be voluntary.\n\n(c)\nBefore submitting a complaint to the Office of Ombudsman, the complainant shall make reasonable efforts to resolve the issue at the school level.\n\n(d)\nComplainants may submit complaints by phone, in writing, or electronically.\n\n(e)\nExcept as provided in subsection (f) of this section, the Office of Ombudsman shall review and investigate each complaint and shall do one or more of the following:\n(1)\nResolve the complaint;\n(2)\nRefer the complainant to another agency or department;\n(3)\nRequire the complainant to submit documentation to support the complaint;\n(4)\nProvide an opportunity for the complainant to meet with the subject of the complaint;\n(5)\nConduct mediation proceedings;\n(6)\nDismiss the complaint as unfounded; or\n(7)\nTake any other action determined necessary and appropriate by the Ombudsman.\n\n(f)\nThe Ombudsman may refrain from investigating a complaint if the Ombudsman reasonably believes one or more of the following:\n(1)\nIt is plain from the face of the complaint that an adequate remedy is presently available, such that investigation is unwarranted;\n(2)\nThe complaint relates to a matter that is outside the jurisdiction of the Ombudsman;\n(3)\nThe complaint relates to an act of which the complainant has had knowledge for an unreasonable length of time before the complaint was submitted;\n(4)\nThe complainant does not have a sufficient personal interest in the subject matter of the complaint;\n(5)\nInvestigation of the complaint would not facilitate an action authorized pursuant to subsection (e) of this section;\n(6)\nThe complaint is made in bad faith; or\n(7)\nThe resources of the Ombudsman are insufficient for adequate investigation.","path":["Title 38. Educational Institutions.","Chapter 3A. Ombudsman for Public Education."],"source_url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/38-356","current_through":"2026-08-20 (D.C. Law 26-175)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-29T05:44:07Z","sha256":"c9d5a7f4d565585f89c9f2a93e2cea70d0a70c3ee61fcdf27502517a82b1683a","source_id":"us-dc","stale":false,"prev":"us-dc/d.c.-code-38-355","next":"us-dc/d.c.-code-38-371"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}