Annual Special Education Family Survey (Indicator 8) Questions

The following are the questions that are asked in the Special Education Family Survey (Indicator 8).

The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce invites you to respond to a short, 25 question survey about your child’s education. The survey will take about 10 minutes to finish and can be completed using your mobile phone or a computer.

You are eligible to participate if your child has an Individualized Education Program (IEP) and receives Special Education services. The purpose of collecting this information is to improve services for students with disabilities, If you are eligible and complete the survey, you have the option of entering a drawing for a $50 electronic gift card. 

To be eligible to participate in the Special Education Family Survey, you must meet three criteria. First, you must be the parent or guardian of a child who has an IEP and receive Special Education Services, Second, your child must attend a school in an Ohio school district or local community school for this survey. Then, your child mist be between the ages of 3 and 22. Please answer the following questions to see if you can participate in the Special Education Family Survey. If you have more than one child receiving Special Education Services, please answer these question for the child who is oldest. 

Eligibility Questions

Does your child have an IEP?

• Yes

• No

• Not Sure

Which age category best matches your child receiving special education services?

• 0–2 years

• 3–5 years

• 6–9 years

• 10–14 years

• 15–18 years

• 19–22 years

• Greater than 22 years

Where does your child receive special education services?

• County

• District/Community School

Family-School Partnership Survey Questions

Please answer the following questions based on your experience with your child’s school. Responses use the following scale:

• Strongly Disagree

• Disagree

• Not Sure

• Agree

• Strongly Agree

Communication and Information

-People at my child’s school communicate with me if there is something I need to know about my child.

• Strongly Disagree

• Disagree

• Not Sure

• Agree

• Strongly Agree

1. The amount of information I receive from my child’s school is about right.

   • Strongly Disagree

   • Disagree

   • Not Sure

   • Agree

   • Strongly Agree

   I understand how my child’s school is carrying out my child’s IEP.

   • Strongly Disagree

   • Disagree

   • Not Sure

   • Agree

   • Strongly Agree

2. Messages from my child’s school about my child’s progress are easy to understand.

   • Strongly Disagree

   • Disagree

   • Not Sure

   • Agree

   • Strongly Agree

Family-School Collaboration

1. School meetings about my child’s education are scheduled at times that are easy for me to attend.

   • Strongly Disagree

   • Disagree

   • Not Sure

   • Agree

   • Strongly Agree

2. My child’s school views me as the expert about how best to meet my child’s needs.

   • Strongly Disagree

   • Disagree

   • Not Sure

   • Agree

   • Strongly Agree

3. My child’s school and I have similar views about my child’s learning needs.

   • Strongly Disagree

   • Disagree

   • Not Sure

   • Agree

   • Strongly Agree

4. My child’s school and I have similar views about my child’s behavioral needs.

   • Strongly Disagree

   • Disagree

   • Not Sure

   • Agree

   • Strongly Agree

5. My child’s school has been welcoming to me.

   • Strongly Disagree

   • Disagree

   • Not Sure

   • Agree

   • Strongly Agree

6. My child’s school makes children and families from all cultures feel welcome.

   • Strongly Disagree

   • Disagree

   • Not Sure

   • Agree

   • Strongly Agree

7. I am an equal member of the team that is responsible for my child’s education.

   • Strongly Disagree

   • Disagree

   • Not Sure

   • Agree

   • Strongly Agree

Understanding and Support

1. If I had a concern with any part of my child’s education, I believe I could get the help I need to solve it.

   • Strongly Disagree

   • Disagree

   • Not Sure

   • Agree

   • Strongly Agree

2. My child’s school follows through on what they say they will do.

   • Strongly Disagree

   • Disagree

   • Not Sure

   • Agree

   • Strongly Agree

3. I can understand all the parts of my child’s IEP.

   • Strongly Disagree

   • Disagree

   • Not Sure

   • Agree

   • Strongly Agree

4. I understand Ohio’s high school graduation requirements.

   • Strongly Disagree

   • Disagree

   • Not Sure

   • Agree

   • Strongly Agree

5. I understand what options my child with an IEP may use to graduate that are different from students without an IEP.

   • Strongly Disagree

   • Disagree

   • Not Sure

   • Agree

   • Strongly Agree

6. I understand that if my child has an IEP, they may continue to receive special education services until age 22 or until they complete regular graduation requirements.

   • Strongly Disagree

   • Disagree

   • Not Sure

   • Agree

   • Strongly Agree

Overall School Partnership Rating

Taking all things into account, do you believe your child’s school works with you to best meet your child’s needs?

Please rate on a scale from 1 to 10:

• 1 = Not at all

• 10 = A great deal

If Improvement Is Needed

If you feel the school needs improvement in working with families, select up to three reasons:

• I have found the special education process to be difficult and/or confusing.

• My child’s IEP is too hard to understand.

• My child’s IEP does not represent the best approach to support my child’s success.

• My child’s IEP was or is not being followed.

• I’ve had difficulty being heard or experienced another communication problem with school personnel.

• I do not feel supported by my child’s school.

• School officials do not appear to know enough about my child’s unique needs.-

• COVID-related issues have been a major concern.

Student Information

What is your child’s current grade in school?

• Pre-K

• Kindergarten

• Grades 1–5

• Grades 6–8

• Grades 9–12

What is your child’s race?

• American Indian/Alaskan Native

• Asian

• Black, Non-Hispanic

• Hispanic/Latinx

• Multiracial

• Pacific Islander

• White, Non-Hispanic

What is your child’s gender?

• Male

• Female

• Other

In which disability category does your child receive special education services? If your child is identified with more than one disability, select the primary disability.

Note: This information is shared during the Evaluation Team Report (ETR) meeting and can be found in that document.

Resources and Contact Information

If you believe your school has violated state or federal law and would like to begin a complaint investigation, contact:

Ohio Department of Education and Workforce Office for Exceptional Children’s Dispute Resolution

Email: exceptionalchildren@education.ohio.gov

Phone: 877-644-6338

If you have concerns that your child’s teachers are not following required ethical standards, contact:

Ohio State Board of Education Office of Professional Conduct

Email: educator.conduct@sboe.ohio.gov

Phone: 855-983-4868

If you believe your child has been abused or neglected during their school experience, contact:

Ohio Department of Job and Family ServicesPhone: 855-OH-CHILD (855-642-4453)

Reports may be made anonymously.

Gift Card Drawing

Would you like to enter a drawing for a $50 electronic gift card?

Participants who choose to enter must provide:

• Name

• Mailing Address

• Email Address

This information will not be attached to survey responses. Ten winners will be selected at random.

Response Options:

• Yes

• No