This document is intended to assist states in implementing the mediation requirements in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), as amended in 1997. These provisions include parent participation in collaborative decision-making and the right of parents to challenge decisions about their child's education program. Increased use of mediation offers hope for more collaborative decision-making by parents and schools. Following an introductory section, this document presents the federal regulations concerning mediation requirements in their entirety. The following section is intended to assist states in assessing whether their systems have addressed the law's requirements by organizing the requirements for mediation under IDEA into the following related areas: (1) mediator standards, (2) mediator selection, (3) mediator process and conditions, (4) encouraging mediation, and (5) attorney participation in mediation (not Federally regulated). For each area the relevant citations from the regulations are excerpted and specific self-assessment questions are suggested. Implications for practice are also addressed. Appendices include a list of all the self-assessment questions and answers to questions concerning mediation from the Office of Special Education Programs. (DB)