Active parental participation throughout the special education process has been one of the foundations of special education law for 30 years. While no one disputes the value of parental participation, there is oftentimes a glaring difference in how parents and school personnel engage in or perceive special education meetings. The decisions made at special education meetings and the manner in which they are made may affect parents on many levels. Unfortunately, little training has been provided to educators on how to simultaneously manage timelines, procedural issues, and the emotional aspects involved. This training will explore how school personnel can improve communication and meeting facilitation skills that will positively affect genuine parental participation.

Target Audience: special educators and administrators