How to View, Access, and Respond to State Complaints

Note: The district’s Catamaran Coordinator and ISD will receive a notification via email if a state complaint has been filed against your district.

1. Log into Catamaran
2. From the home page, click on the Policy tile to view your Policy Tasks Overview. You may also click on the Policy tab at the top of the screen.
3. Click the Submitted or All filter to show the state complaint regarding the district will show on the Policy Tasks Overview.
4. Click on the Complaint link in the Activity column (e.g. Complaint- 17-01XX) to access the complaint.

Note:  The state complaint will not show on your task list. However, if a Complaint Corrective Action Plan (CAP) or Student Level Correction Action Plan (SLCAP) has been issued, that will show on your task list.

Note: If MDE needs additional information regarding the complaint during the investigation, the district and the ISD will receive an email notification notifying them. Please ensure that your contact email address is correct to make sure you receive these notifications.

1. Once you have accessed a complaint, you may view the original complaint filed to MDE under the Complaint Information to District link on the Forms menu.

1. Download and view the original complaint in PDF format by clicking on the Original Complaint link on the Complaint Information to District page.
2. View and download any letters regarding the complaint by clicking on documents under the PDF Link for Complaint Letters

1. Any district responses to this complaint may be uploaded to the District Response page. Click on the Complaint District Response link on the Forms menu to access this page.

1. On the Complaint District Response page, upload any needed documentation for the complaints investigation using the Browse or Choose File Enter the document title, date and any additional comments as needed.
2. Click Save after uploading any documentation.

1. First, the state complaint investigator will review the complaint filed against your district and determine if there is enough information to continue. During this process, they may request additional information from your district.
2. When there is enough information to proceed, the investigator will gather additional information by examining the issues outlined in the complaint, reviewing documents, interviewing staff, etc. After completing the investigation, the Office of Special Education (OSE) Program Accountability Unit will determine whether to issue a CAP and/or SLCAP to address the issues. If a CAP and/or SLCAP is issued, this will show on your task list as a Complaint CAP or a Complaint SLCAP.
3. For more information on how to address a Complaint CAP, please visit the Catamaran Training Website and review the How to Complete the Corrective Action Plan (CAP) Process training materials.