Academic Decisions About Individuals

Parents or guardians can provide valuable, specific information to school staff to assist in making academic decisions about individuals with disabilities. Such information may be records of certain behaviors and learning styles of the child at home, the child's strengths and areas of difficulty academically, as well as their medical history and disability, if any. Teachers can contribute their experiences regarding the child's motor development, language development, and even social behaviors at home and in settings other than school. They can also facilitate information on the child's likes, desires, and feelings toward a certain learning environment. Additionally, the parents can provide any information regarding the attempted or performed treatments and therapies the child has gone through in their cycle, frequency, and efficacy, as seen by the parents (Logsdon, 2022). They may also enlighten the teacher about certain activities that have effectively promoted learning in the child at home, for instance, certain routines, aids, or approaches that boost the students' attention or understanding of a certain subject.

This information will help the Multidisciplinary Evaluation Team (MET) during the formal evaluation of a child. The MET, which includes special education teachers, psychologists, and therapists, among other professionals, seeks to base its decisions on the student's educational requirements and performance. Parents’ input allows for a broader perspective on how the child functions in various settings. Factors that the team may need to fully observe in the school setting are easily realized (Logsdon, 2022). It, therefore, enables the MET to establish more accurate and appropriate education plans to enable the child to receive the right support to meet their needs fully. Moreover, it proves that parent knowledge can help the team choose the proper evaluation instruments and understand the outcomes, considering the general progress of the child and their life events, to produce a more efficient resultant Individualized Education Program (IEP).