FROM SPECTATOR TO STAKEHOLDER: THE INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PROGRAM PROCESS AS A TOOL TO CREATE FAMILY-SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS FOR STUDENT SUCCESS

Hiam C. Awni, Maritza Lozano, Janice Wyck-Wayne, Aja McKee
2022 Zenodo  
This study addressed the gap between what the law states and what is practiced since parent engagement as legal compliance has mostly failed in addressing the real needs of preschool children with disabilities and their families. This study sought to improve parent engagement, family–school partnership, and parent satisfaction by implementing a standard Individualized Education Program (IEP) process. Using improvement science as the methodology, this study implemented an existing IEP checklist
more » ... o create a standard process for IEP development and made improvements on the checklist through extensive inputs from IEP improvement team members. Six school IEP team members and seven parents participated in the study, of whom four school staff and four parents also completed the survey. The findings indicated that the use of a standard IEP checklist is a feasible strategy that has an important role in establishing a standard process. The findings also indicated that a standard IEP process is likely to support parent satisfaction and agreement to the IEP. However, the findings also suggested that the implementation of a standard IEP checklist alone is not sufficient in increasing parent engagement and family–school partnership. The themes of communication, training, and time were areas that must be targeted for improvement in the future PDSA cycles. My learning reflections, as well as personal and professional reflections, are presented. Implications and recommendations are also discussed.
doi:10.5281/zenodo.6965257 fatcat:o2erglduf5fshcbkuleqpenmuy