School and Parent Responsibilities in Special Education
IDEA provides the legal rights for individuals with disabilities to receive free, appropriate public education. However, for the law to be effective, collaboration and constructive partnership must be established among parents, teachers, school specialists, school administration, and community agencies. The school and parents must accept certain basic responsibilities for the system to work effectively. The table below lists the school and parent responsibilities.
| School's Responsibilities | Parents' Responsibilities |
| Provide free and appropriate education through age 21. | Provide consent for educational evaluation and placement. |
| Provide an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for each student who requires special education and related services. | Participate in case conference committee including development of IEP. |
| Assure testing, evaluation materials, procedures, and interpretations are non-biased. | Cooperate with school and teachers. |
| Educate students with disabilities in the least-restrictive environment. | Attend case reviews to ensure IEP remains appropriate. |
| Assure confidentiality of records for individuals with disabilities. | Reinforce procedures and policies (e.g., help with homework routines). |
| Conduct searches to identify and evaluate students with disabilities from birth through age 21. | Assist with any home-school behavioral contracting efforts. |
| Provide procedural due process rights for students and parents. | Help maintain open communication with school and teachers. |
Excerpt from The Inclusive Classroom: Strategies for Effective Instruction, by M.A. Mastropieri & T.E. Scruggs, 2007 edition, p. 27.
© 2007, Merrill, an imprint of Pearson Education Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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