An Evaluation of Making Action Plans: The Effects on Parent Involvement in Individualized Education Program Meetings

Over the course of extensive research, researchers have acknowledged the positive effects of parent involvement on student’s education, including positive academic and social emotional outcomes. Despite this, particularly for parents of students in special education, parents continue to be passive participants in their students Individualized Education Program meetings, and hold negative perceptions of IEP meetings, which negatively effects parent involvement. This study investigated the effects of a Making Action Plans (MAPS) meeting on parent involvement in an IEP meeting, using a non-experimental design, and qualitative analysis and multiple linear regressions to analyze research questions. Although some positive effects were noted, overall, results were not considered significant with the study’s sample. Despite this, the current student did demonstrate positive implications for better understanding parent involvement in the IEP process, with MAPS being a potentially beneficial way to emphasize student strengths and encourage parent involvement