Research has shown the importance of family-school collaboration in promoting positive student outcomes, but also the lack of satisfaction and trust on the part of both teachers and family members, especially with cross-cultural interactions. A key barrier is the lack of teacher professional development regarding research-based practices and…

The importance of strong family partnerships has long been considered essential to supporting the success of student with exceptionalities. Research indicates that building school-wide relationships with culturally and linguistically diverse families continues to prove challenges for administrators and other school personnel (Fowler, Coleman,…

Parent participation in the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process is a critical factor in improving the effectiveness of children's special education programs and services. However, many families, particularly those from culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) backgrounds, are unfamiliar with the IEP process and their rights under…

In addition to the demographic disparities between educators and students, many preservice general and special education teachers report limited exposure to students from culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) backgrounds and perceive themselves as ill prepared to address the learning needs of diverse populations of students with and without…

The US is becoming progressively diverse and so are our classrooms. Home-school partnerships are essential to supporting diverse learners. It is critical both new and veteran practitioners make intentional efforts to provide culturally proficient practices when building home-school partnerships. Cultural awareness is identified across disciplines…

This article focuses on implementing the Science of Math through a culturally responsive framework designed to support culturally and linguistically diverse students in math classrooms. We consider the influence of (second) language acquisition and instructional environments for students in addition to specific ways to increase instructional…

Since the reopening of schools after COVID-19, students and staff have been required to wear face masks. Some students, including those with extensive support needs (ESN), may have difficulty in wearing these novel protective garments. Fortunately, researchers have demonstrated the effectiveness of several procedures for supporting the wearing of…

The unique role of parents and caregivers of students with disabilities has led to the incorporation of parent involvement as one of the six foundational principles of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Despite this vision of parent involvement within IDEA, families often feel as if they are passive recipients of special…

Family engagement is pivotal to student development and academic achievement, particularly for students of color with disabilities and those from historically underserved culturally and linguistically diverse communities (Delale-O'Connor et al., 2020; Fehrer & Tognozzi, 2018; Impact of Family Engagement, n.d.). Unfortunately, the…

A large body of research suggests that families' engagement in their children's education is a crucial factor in promoting school success for children and youth. Family engagement in school is associated with improved academic achievement and reductions in social and behavioral problems. Research also suggests that collaboration between schools…

The changing racial and ethnic demographics in the United States school-age population is a defining phenomenon of its educational system. Classrooms across the country are a microcosm of the expanding cultural diversity in society. This growing demographic of students of color extends to students in low-incidence disability groups: deaf or hard…

Father-child interactions can positively influence child development and learning, and greater father involvement in children's education can support overall positive family functioning, especially in families with children with disabilities. As the number of dual-earner families in America has increased, more and more fathers have assumed care…

Families immigrate to the United States for numerous reasons, including placement by a refugee resettlement agency because of an unsafe country of origin, religious or ethnic persecution, or financial and educational opportunities. Differing cultures and reasons for immigration (e.g., asylum vs. education) result in great variability among…

Disruptive behaviors are some of the most commonly presented concerns in the classroom. Without intervention, such difficulties may lead to higher teacher frustration and a higher rate of negative teacher feedback, and they may interfere with students' learning opportunities and result in poorer academic and life adjustment outcomes (Landrum,…

Although there has been a consistent vision for multicultural education and family collaboration in teacher preparation programs for decades, collaborative partnerships between culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) families and their children's educators remain elusive (Harry, 2008; Trent, Kea, & Oh, 2008). Family engagement in special…