about ResolvED

Dispute resolution, built by someone who's seen every side of it.

ResolvED is a consulting practice that rebuilds how schools handle conflict from the ground up. We work with public districts and independent schools to replace an old, broken system, one where teachers and administrators are trained to take sides and brace for a fight, with a culture where conflict is seen as an opportunity to negotiate and reach a deal. We go beyond advising. Through the ResolvED Methodology, we assess where your dynamic is breaking down, diagnose what's driving the conflict, and rebuild the way your staff respond to it. Grounded in the work of education attorney and mediator Deborah Jacobson, our methodology replaces an adversarial, reactive culture with a collaborative one, so conflict gets resolved early, before it becomes costly.

"I've spent my entire legal career suing schools and watching good administrators make small mistakes that cost them millions."

Sources: Center for Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Special Education (CADRE), IDEA dispute resolution data; American Association of School Administrators (AASA).

$23,827 

Avg. cost per SpEd settlement

16.4%

Rise in due process complaints filed nationally, 2021–22 to 2022–23

32.4%

Rise in written state complaints, 2021-22 to 2022-23

Deborah Jacobson

Partner & Lead Neutral
Education attorney · Founder, Jacobson Education Law 
Deborah has spent her entire legal career working on behalf of children with special needs. She founded Jacobson Education Law in Berkeley in 2013, after co-founding The School Justice Project in Washington, D.C. and serving as managing associate at a special education law firm there. Having represented thousands of families in special education matters, Deborah understands exactly what fuels school disputes and what prevents them. Since 2022, she has served as a legal mediator and ADR facilitator for Oakland Unified School District, bringing that same preventive, relationship-centered approach directly into district systems. A frequent presenter at state and national conferences, Deborah is the legal mind and driving force behind ResolvED's curriculum, ensuring every module reflects what actually happens and what actually works in real disputes.

SANDRA RODRIGUEZ 

Partner & Director of Program Strategy and Production
About me
Leads program design, production, and systemic research behind ResolvED's curriculum. Sandra ensures every course is as compelling as it is practical, bridging evidence-based methodology with cinematic delivery that engages educators at every level.

Backed by Jacobson Resolutions

ResolvED is the education consulting arm of Jacobson Resolutions, an Alternative Dispute Resolution practice. Our strategy is grounded in real mediation and facilitation experience  and districts that want to go further can access full mediation and consulting services through the parent firm.
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