School Leadership and Educational Reform: Parent Involvment, the Education for Handicapped Children Act, and the Principal

Originally passed in 1975, the Education for Handicapped Children Act (EHA or P.L. 94-142) provided an unprecedented legislative definition of parent involvement. Congress mandated that parents be included in the educational decision-making process concerning handicapped children. This paper summarizes parent involvement as defined by the EHA, reviews the literature on implementation of EHA\u27s provision for parent involvement, and offers recommendations for principals\u27 leadership in supporting parent involvement. Principals are advised to create a school climate conducive to parent involvement through parent induction programs and staff development