An Assessment of Parent Attitudes Toward Special Education Services in Rural Greene County, Missouri

Date of Graduation

Fall 1983

Degree

Master of Science in Education in Educational Administration

Department

Counseling, Leadership, and Special Education

Committee Chair

Ruth Burgess

Abstract

The Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975 (P.L.94-142) mandates the inclusion of parent's rights pertaining to the education of their handicapped children. This study presents the findings of a parent survey conducted in rural Greene County, Missouri. Parents of handicapped children responded to a questionnaire consisting of questions related to: special education services; placement procedures and individual education plan development; academic progress; curriculum content; and efforts made by school personnel to implement the provisions of P.L.94-142. Results indicated that approximately three-fourths of the parents were satisfied with the special education services provided for their children: parents reported satisfaction with the five major topics addressed by the questionnaire: parents of educable mentally handicapped and behavior disordered children were less satisfied with services than parents of specific learning disabled children: parents of elementary school aged children were more satisfied with special services than parents of secondary school aged children. Parents expressed a desire to be more involved in program planning and cited a need for more communication between the home and school.

Subject Categories

Educational Administration and Supervision

Copyright

© Kimberly Ann Nye

Citation-only

Dissertation/Thesis

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