Who appoints a hearing officer?

• A. Appointed by the local school district board.
• B. Appointed by the parent.
• C. Appointed by the teachers union.
• D. Appointed by the State Education Agency (SEA).

Answer: (D)

In due process hearings for special education, the person who presides must be a neutral, third-party to ensure fairness and consistency. The State Education Agency (SEA) assigns or appoints the hearing officer because this maintains impartiality across districts and provides a standardized process. Local district boards, parents, or unions could introduce perceived or real bias if they were responsible for appointing the officer, so the SEA handles the appointment to safeguard objectivity. The SEA typically keeps a roster of qualified hearing officers and assigns one to each case, ensuring the hearing follows state and federal rules and timelines.