Schools attuned-outcomes in the home for special needs students

Abstract

Scope and Method of Study: The purpose of this study was to research the question, what happens to families when they become engaged with the Schools Attuned program? The Schools Attuned program is a professional development program designed for educators. The study was qualitative; detailed interviewing, participant observation, and analyzing artifacts were the most common techniques used. The study was guided by critical theory and phenomenological inquiry. The interview participants (10 total) were all from a private school named Mountain School in North Texas. Mountain School is a school "designed especially for different learners." After the interviews were completed each interview was transcribed and submitted to the participants for a member check. Then the data from the interviews was complied into common themes, also know as thematic analysis. Chapters IV and V were constructed based upon the emergent themes taken from the analysis of the interviews.

Findings and Conclusions: The emergent themes from the study are as follows: Parents' struggles before Schools Attuned (frustrations, guilt, exhaustion, exclusion, and social stigmas), Transformation as a result of Schools Attuned, and Schools Attuned driving the school culture. From these themes I discuss the following points in Chapter V: Building Parent Trust (the use of labels and providing partnership), Teacher Education (teacher reflection and teacher research, preservice teachers) and Building a Climate of Victory. These applications mentioned could be linked to any building and used by administrators because human needs are universal. The recommendations would help build a sense of community and understanding for families that have children who have learning differences.