HISPANIC PARENTS ATTITUDES AND PARTICIPATION - REGULAR AND SPECIAL-EDUCATION

This research project focused on the attitudes toward education of His panic parents with children in regular and special education classes, and it assessed their level of participation in their children's educa tion. One hundred and eighty Hispanic parents participated in this stu dy; 80 Hispanic parents with children in special education classes and 100 in regular education classes were interviewed. Using a series of questionnaires, the attitudes of Hispanic parents toward education wer e examined, the parents' level of participation in their child's educa tion was determined, their perceptions of common barriers to participa tion were assessed and their definition of participation was addressed . The special and regular education groups did not differ in their att itudes toward education. There were no significant relationships betwe en parent participation and education, salary or acculturation. There were, however, significant differences between the two groups in avail ability of transportation, educational activities at home, attendance at parent meetings, parent-parent contact, involvement with administra tion and advocacy groups and dissemination of information.