Parent Perspectives of Desired and Experienced Child and Family Practices in the Early Elementary Grades

Abstract

Knowledge of the types of school-based practices parents consider important for their children and themselves are the foundations for improving school-family relationships. Surveys were used to determine parents’ (1) desire for family-centered practices, individualized and developmentally appropriate child practices, and integrated and coordinated child and family practices in the early elementary grades, (2) the extent to which parents and their children experienced desired practices, (3) barriers and solutions to use of the practices, and (4) strategies and recommendations for promoting increased use of desired practices. Participants were parents of children with disabilities or developmental delays who previously participated in early intervention or preschool special education programs, or both, where the children were currently enrolled in grades K through 3 at the time data collection occurred. Findings indicated that the desire for targeted practices varied depending on the types of practices, the parents and children minimally experienced desired practices, and that barriers and solutions tended to be related to family-school relationships. Implications for improving school-family relationships and practices are described.

Keywords: Family-centered, developmentally appropriate, inclusion, integrated, coordinated, desired practices, experienced practices, barriers, solutions

DOI: 10.7176/JEP/10-15-05

Publication date:May 31^st 2019