A Study of Latina Mothers and Teachers’ Experiences with Home-School Partnerships in Special Education

Parents’ Experiences Transitioning From Early Intervention Services to School Services

“…Specifically, parents reported that EI providers offered clear communication and information on EI. Consistent with the literature, families report feeling like equal partners on a collaborative team when communication is reciprocal and happens on a regular basis (Buren et al, 2021; Hughes et al, 2008). In addition, participants suggest that practitioners increase communication among each other; EI teams and school teams should share information such as previous services provided, evaluation data, and professional opinions.…”

“…Specifically, parents felt the EI staff maintained frequent communication, offered resources and assistance with school placements and services, and generally treated parents with respect. Currently, many studies in the extant literature support these findings and suggest when families and professionals maintain regular communication, parents feel supported (Buren et al, 2021;Burke & Hodapp, 2014). In addition, when parents have positive relationships with their EI team, parents can better support their own children during parent-child interactions (Kelly et al, 2008).…”

“…First, school professionals should consider forming strong partnerships with families during the initial IEP meeting, as this is the first encounter many families have with the school. Notably, extant research suggests parents value collaborative partnerships with school professionals (Buren et al, 2021; Burke & Goldman, 2018) and believe in the importance of personal, caring relationships with teachers (Hughes et al, 2008; Rueda et al, 2005). Second, when parent participants were asked how EI and school teams can better support families in the transition from EI to school services, several suggestions emerged.…”