Literature Articles
Research indicates that partnerships between schools and neighborhood communities support student learning, improve schools, and strengthen families and neighborhoods. These partnerships expand the traditional educational mission of the school to include health and social services for children and...
This paper describes causes of special education conflict and explores alternative conflict management approaches being pioneered by state education agencies and school districts. The focus is on early informal dispute resolution strategies as alternatives to due process hearings and mediation...
Parent participation in the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process is a critical factor in improving the effectiveness of children’s special education programs and services. However, many families, particularly those from culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) backgrounds, are...
This article describes biculturization as an effective process for planning an IEP or an intervention. They illustrate the process through a merger of the McGill Action PLanning System (MAPS) with an indigenous Hawaiian social work process known as 'Ohana Conferencing. [from p.132]...
[abstract] "In this study I argue that educational practitioners and policy makers cannot solve the problem of increasing student learning and growth by organizationally isolating the work of schools from communities. The purpose of this study was to explore which organizational conditions have...
This article advocates that cases regarding IEP implementation should be decided through a 'per se' approach, thus requiring that all aspects of the IEP are followed. To do otherwise denies a student of a free and appropriate public education. "IDEA has generated considerable litigation over what...
Discusses effect of Buckhannon case on attorney fees in special education mediation. Prior to this case, if parents were the “prevailing party” in mediation, the parents’ attorney could seek fees from the school district. Now, if parents and school districts enter into a settlement through mediation...
This article focuses on the special education mediation that was conducted in various high schools in Virginia, United States. It discusses how to choose a mediator; implementation of a statewide system of mediation using a baseline identified in the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act of...
This article distills three lessons learned over the 30 years since IDEIA was first passed: 1) Families organize daily routines that balance their beliefs, resources, and needs and abilities. 2) Families vary greatly in how and how much they collaborate and participate in schooling activities. 3)...
[abstract] This qualitative case study examines the perceptions of parents of students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) towards family/school partnerships. Interviews were conducted with parents of children with autism that belonged to a parent support group in western Pennsylvania. The resulting...
This guide suggests a fresh perspective for families and professionals working together to develop Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for students with disabilities living in Maryland. It begins by explaining the purpose of IEPs and by providing the principles for IEP development in Maryland...
[Excerpt] "If trust is born in strong relationships, then first encounters are critical. Parents of students with disabilities undergo a great deal of stress and come to us--the educational professionals--for help with vital specialized tasks, including assessment, placement, progress monitoring...
Parental involvement is vital in helping students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) perform successfully in schools. Often, low-income families are not involved in their children's education. Therefore, the school counselor's role in partnering with families of students with ADHD...
Although occasional national frequency analyses of DPHs were based on a clearly incomplete database, the federally funded Center on Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Special Education (CADRE), which started in 1998, has filled the gap for approximately the last two decades. Various published...
Research has demonstrated persistent, disproportionally negative educational outcomes for students of color, causing national concern in this area. School personnel increasingly understand the need to engage with parents as educational partners, but parents of color may feel marginalized in these...
Research has documented the important role that parental involvement plays in children's learning. Yet, it can be challenging for schools to establish appropriate relationships with parents. Is there an optimal balance of collaborative and separate relationships between parents and schools? Twenty...
[abstract] Parents’ involvement in their child’s education has been an important tenet of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Under the special education accountability system that went into effect in 2005, states have been required to report annually to the federal government on the...
Due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, almost all school districts rapidly shifted to distance learning in spring of the 2019-2020 school year. This shift laid bare both the logistical and instructional challenges of distance learning, particularly for English learners and students...
[Abstract] This study investigated the nature of parent involvement and parent–educator communication in prior-to-school early childhood settings and school, to explore relations to social capital variables and consistencies and changes in practices over time. Parent interview and teacher...
In this article the authors analyzed 347 special education cases from Pennsylvania. These cases, drawn from a 16-year period, included decisions made at both the due process level and the appeals level. The authors’ examination identified three variables that were significantly related to due...
Long-term follow-up data were obtained on families who had been randomly assigned to mediate or litigate their child custody disputes. In comparison with families who litigated custody, nonresidential parents who mediated were more involved in multiple areas of their children's lives, maintained...
Mediation of child custody disputes is mandated in several states. Investigators have averred that victims of domestic violence (DV) are greatly disadvantaged in mediation. The present study empirically evaluated outcomes and found that mediators failed to recognize and report DV in 56.9% of the DV...
The author investigated the level of participation and experiences of 5 Chinese parents of children with disabilities in individualized education program (IEP) meetings through observations and interviews. Results of the study suggested that the Chinese parents were dissatisfied with 12 of 15...
The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of three situational variables—time pressure to resolve the dispute, expectation of future relations between disputants and range of impact of the settlement on future conflicts—on a third party's style of managing a dispute. These variables were...
This article explores the issue of requests for additional special education services. In their study, the authors identified which parents of children who receive special education services make claims for additional related services; the barriers these parents report facing in obtaining such...