The effect of parent training on increasing parent understanding of, participation in, and satisfaction with the Individualized Education Program (IEP) conference

This study investigated the effect of parent training on increasing parent understanding of, participation in, and satisfaction with the Individualized Education Program (IEP) conference. The subjects were parents of children who received a special education comprehensive evaluation and who were identified as handicapped as the result of the IEP conference. The forty-five subjects who voluntarily participated in the study were randomly assigned to one of three groups that received either direct, indirect, or no parent training related to the IEP conference. Parents in the direct training group were administered training on a one-to-one basis for one hour by a trainer utilizing an Individualized Education Program Parent Training Packet (PTP). Parents in the direct training group were administered training by utilizing a PTP that was read by the parent with no one-to-one, personal contact. The same PTP was utilized with subjects in both the direct and indirect training groups with the treatments administered one to three days prior to the IEP conference. Parents who did not receive either direct or indirect training served as the control group. Parent participation was measured on a Parent Participation Recording Form by charting a frequency count of comments initiated by parents during the IEP conference. Parent understanding of and satisfaction with the IEP conference was measured by the administration of a questionnaire immediately following the IEP conference. Statistical analysis indicated that no significant differences at the.05 level existed among the groups relative to the three dependent measures. Recommendations for further research to investigate parent involvement in the IEP conference are offered