Parent participation in individualised educational program planning in NSW schools for specific purposes

Abstract

This paper examines the role that parents play in Individual Educational Program (IEP) planning in Schools for Specific Purposes (SSPs) in NSW. Quality Assurance reports on these schools provide information about parent participation and about teacher and parent attitudes to this participation. Many of the practices and attitudes found mirror the experiences reported in USA in the late 1970s and 1980s as parent participation in IEP planning became established in that country. Some suggestions are made as to possible strategies to increase parent involvement by recognising parent values as important determinants of IEP content.