2017/03/13 by North Cooc, Oanh T. Bui, Oanh Thi Bui
Psychology · Social Sciences · #Diverse Education Studies and Reforms #Family and Disability Support Research #Parental Involvement in Education
paper · doi:10.1177/0022466917696285
crossref issued 2017/03/13 · crossref published 2017/03/13 · crossref published-online 2017/03/13 · openalex publication_date 2017/03/13 · crossref created 2017/03/14 · crossref published-print 2017/11/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · crossref deposited 2026/05/01 · crossref indexed 2026/07/29 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30
To assist parents of children with disabilities with navigating the special education system, the Individuals With Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA) established Parent Training and Information (PTI) Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers (CPRC) in each state. However, little is known about the 103 total Parent Centers currently operating across the country and whom they serve. We address this research gap by analyzing administrative data on 29,194 parents served over a 13-year period through the only PTI in Massachusetts, the Federation for Children With Special Needs (FCSN). Results show White parents and parents of children with autism spectrum disorders were more likely to contact the FCSN, while parents from rural and economically disadvantaged backgrounds were less likely to do so. Consistent across all backgrounds and disability categories, parents came to the FCSN most frequently for assistance related to individualized education programs (IEPs). Implications related to how Parent Centers can improve family outreach efforts and work with schools and community-based organizations are provided.