Findings on Family-Centered Services

The U.S. Department of Education recently released its 23rd annual report to Congress on IDEA. This report included findings on many issues including family-centered services for infants and toddlers and parental involvement for older children. Improved outcomes for young children are most likely when parents or primary caregivers are recognized as essential factors in a child's development. Collaboration between families and school personnel has also been effective in dealing students with behavior problems.

States encourage parental involvement by using some of the following methods:

• Allowing parents to provide input in developing training and public awareness materials;
• Holding meetings in many locations around the state so it is convenient for parents to participate;
• Presenting information in a way that is easy for parents to understand; and,
• Providing joint training sessions for both parents and educators.

This report is available on-line at www.ed.gov/about/reports/annual/osep/2001/index.html. The report is also available for free from ED Pubs.

ED Pubs, P.O. Box 1398, Jessup, Md. 20794-1398, 877.4ED.PUBS (voice), 877.576.7734 (TTY/TDD), 301.470.1244 (fax), www.edpubs.org (web), CustomerService@inet.ed.gov (e-mail).