Parents are an important part of their children s education.
Increasing the involvement of parents in the education of their children is a national goal for policy makers in both general and special education. Amendments of 1997 promote the involvement of parents in their children s education as a means of improving results for children with disabilities. This includes participating in any meetings about their child s identification, evaluation, and educational placement as a child with a disability, and any meetings about the provision of a free appropriate public education to their child. It also includes ensuring that parents rights are explained to them throughout the special education process. Wisconsin law ensures equal participation of parents on IEP teams but goes a step farther by ensuring parents the opportunity to participate in the development and review of the school district s Special Education Plan for all children with disabilities.