School professionals are often faced with formal due process hearings regarding education of exceptional students. By the time a formal hearing is required to resolve differences, parental perceptions of school personnel are often negative, while educators develop similar views of parents. Fortunately, there are easily understood ways to preclude need for due process hearings, while meeting legitimate needs of children, parents, and school personnel. Although not infallible, these techniques can improve the probability of avoiding a formal hearing and improve parent-school relationships.