Parents Right to Participate

Parents' Right to Participate in Their Child's Educational Plan

Parent participation in decisions regarding services for their child is foundational to the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). With each student, school systems must ensure that parents have the opportunity to participate in meetings or groups related to evaluation, identification, and educational placement; provision of a free appropriate public education (FAPE); eligibility determinations; and individualized education program (IEP) planning. Additionally, both federal and state special education laws provide for parent participation at a systems level, with the expectation that parents and professionals collaborate on decisions to implement resources to improve outcomes for children with disabilities. (PACER Center, 2009).