Black Parents’ Reflections on Individualized Education Program Meeting Experiences

The individualized education program (IEP) meeting is a key component of the special education process wherein parents, the student (as appropriate), and school professionals come together at least annually to determine goals and needed supports and services for students with disabilities. Though existing research has highlighted parent experiences in IEP meetings, there is little representation of Black families. Such limited research is problematic, especially given that, compared to White families of children with disabilities, Black families are more likely to experience systemic barriers to family-school partnerships. To address this gap in the literature, we interviewed 24 Black parents of students with IEPs to explore their IEP meeting experiences, including barriers to participation. Participants also shared advice for other Black families including, encouraging them to advocate for their children and collaborate with other IEP team members. Findings have implications for research, practice, and policy.