The manual for due process hearing officers in Utah provides information on prehearing activities, hearing activities, decision making processes, and final reporting on hearings regarding conflicts or disagreements between the parents and the school district concerning the most appropriate educational program for the handicapped child. An introductory section provides background information on the handicapped child's right to an education, definitions used in the manual, general information for the hearing officer, the roles and responsibilities of the hearing officer, and responsibilities of the parent and the local education agency in a due process hearing. Section II outlines prehearing activities and offers sample correspondence the hearing officer may utilize for his specific responsibilities before conducting the hearing. A third section deals with activities in conducting the hearing, including the opening statement, closing statement, and recording. A final section deals with the decision making process and writing the final report. Sections include questions on the materials covered (along with references to the appropriate page in the manual), checklists, and sample forms. Appendixes contain an amended annual plan, a sample opening statement, sample closing statement, constitutional and legislative background information, rules and regulations for P.L. 94-142 (the Education for All Handicapped Children Act), sample cases, notes on writing the decision, a paper on the prehearing conference, information on jurisdiction of due process hearing officers, challenges to impartiality of hearing officers, and the institutional child's claim to special education. (SB)