- 6,620 parents and caregivers from 173 Ohio school districts and community schools shared their perspectives on family engagement in special education.
- 86% of families reported that their schools supported parent involvement to improve services and outcomes for students with disabilities. This is the highest percentage across all six survey cohorts, though still below Ohio’s 89% target.
- Communication was generally rated positively, with 76%–82% of respondents agreeing that schools communicated effectively, clearly and appropriately.
- 85% said their school was welcoming, while 77% agreed their school was welcoming to children and families from all cultural backgrounds.
- Family-school partnerships showed both strengths and opportunities for growth: 85% said meetings were scheduled at convenient times, while 71% felt recognized as experts in understanding and meeting their child’s needs.
- Graduation knowledge remains an important area for improvement. Only 56% of respondents understood the graduation options available to students with IEPs.
- Among families reporting lower levels of collaboration, the most common concerns were difficulty communicating with school personnel and school staff not sufficiently understanding their child’s unique needs.