FAMILY-SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP EXPERIENCES OF PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS: A QUALITATIVE CASE STUDY

Abstract

This qualitative case study examined the experiences of parents of children with special educational needs (SEN) regarding family-school partnership in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). The participants were 15 parents selected through maximum variation sampling. Data were collected using a semi-structured interview protocol and analyzed through descriptive and content analyses. The findings revealed that parents’ experiences of family-school partnership were shaped by access to support services, communication and information sharing with school personnel, parents’ priorities and participation experiences in the educational process, involvement in the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process, and expectations of schools. Participants’ views particularly highlighted the lack of specialized personnel, difficulties in accessing support services, irregular or superficial communication, limited participation in decision-making processes, and insufficient parental involvement in IEP processes. Nevertheless, some parents stated that regular and solution-oriented communication with teachers made it easier for them to monitor their children’s educational process. The results indicate that effective family-school partnership in the education of children with SEN can be strengthened not only through individual teachers’ efforts, but also through open communication, institutional support, parental involvement, and inclusive school policies. In this regard, the study underscores the importance of regarding parents as active stakeholders in the educational process of children with SEN and of systematically structuring school-based support mechanisms.

Keywords: family engagement, individualized education program, inclusive education, family-school partnership, children with special educational needs

Ethics and Conflict of Interest

The authors of the study acted in accordance with ethical rules in all processes of the research. The authors declare that he acted in accordance with ethical rules in all processes of the research. The authors declare that they do not have any conflict of interest with other persons, institutions or organizations.

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