The packet is designed to aid State Directors of Special Education in the Southwest Region in the development, initiation, implementation, or refinement of procedural safeguards for parents and children, with a specific focus on communication between parents of special needs children and state or local education agencies. A matrix outlines procedures, policies and general information from eight selected states (California, Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, and Pennsylvania) on informing parents. The points covered on the matrix are discussed in relation to how different states respond to specific procedural safeguard issues in areas where federal law allows alternative approaches. In a paper titled "Parental Perceptions of Their Experiences with Due Process in Special Education--A Preliminary Report," S. Mitchell examines the expectations and characteristics of 25 families involved with due process concerning the education of their learning disabled, emotionally disturbed, gifted or speech impaired children in the state of Massachusetts. (SBH)