Home-School Collaboration Practices for Children with Special Needs in Selected Schools in Ilocos Norte

The study aimed to evaluate home-school collaboration practices for children with special needs in selected elementary schools in the Schools Division of Ilocos Norte, City Schools Division of Laoag, and City Schools Division of Batac. It focused on factors such as inclusivity, parental involvement, communication, positive attitudes, support systems, collaborative planning and implementation, and well-being. Results of this study showed that the school’s strategy to include children with special needs in activities were effective, but it was noted that consistent parent engagement in school activities would cause more improvement in student’s social and academic performance. During the study, the observed communication practices of the schools emanated effective results. School faculty and staff demonstrated positive attitudes towards children with special needs. Thus, the support systems aspect was the highest-rated aspect as the respective schools provided adequate support services, specialized staff, and resources. Given the fact that this study revealed significant differences in perceptions based on sex, age, monthly family income, and type of employment of the parents, the school collaborated effectively with parents in setting educational goals and developing individualized education plans (IEPs). But behind these notable positive observations, the researcher observed that the consistency towards the implementation of these practices should be strengthened disregarding the differences of the learners’ parents.