Reach: How can we make the most of our parent involvement data?

There are many reasons for your state to collect and analyze parent involvement data that go beyond the federally mandated requirement to report on Indicator B8. Table 23 presents some ways that states can use parent involvement data to ensure that they are meeting the needs of students with disabilities and their families.

Table 23

Ways states can use parent involvement data

Ensure high-quality services are provided

Communicating parent involvement data can help to ensure that the services provided to encourage parent involvement are high quality, relevant, and useful. States can use the data to monitor and manage implementation of parent involvement initiatives and provide feedback to inform improvements, with the ultimate goal of improving services and results for students with disabilities.

Promote accountability

Keeping key stakeholders (such as OSEP, district and school leaders, advocacy groups, school staff, and parents) aware of how well states and districts are doing in their efforts to encourage parent involvement in the education of students with disabilities can serve as a mechanism for accountability. When results show that parent involvement is low, such information can serve as a stimulus to improve.

Provide important information about what works (and doesn’t work)

Communications about successes and lessons learned through parent involvement data can be valuable to others doing similar work and to a wider audience of individuals interested in learning about the results of investments to increase parent involvement.

Generate support for services

Communications about how involved parents feel can help generate interest in, and support for, projects to support parent involvement. Conversely, the impact or reach of efforts to encourage parent involvement can be limited if states and districts fail to effectively communicate about achievements and results of their investments.

How Can Stakeholders Help?

Ask stakeholders to review the results of your data analyses and participate in a larger decisionmaking process around overall program improvement and priorities.

In this section you will learn how your state can

Next Page:

Section 08

Report the correct information to OSEP and the public

Continue