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Choosing a school: parental decision-making when special schools are an option
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-18, 22:21 authored by Mann, G, Monica CuskellyMonica Cuskelly, Moni, KParental rights to choose a school are widely acknowledged. School choices for parents of children with disability have been discussed in the academic literature; however, the decision-making process itself is largely hidden. It is vital to understand parental decision-making around school choice more deeply, given the high regard with which this is viewed. Six focus groups were held in Queensland, Australia in 2013 to explore parental decision-making. Data were collected from 30 parents with children of different ages, some of whom were eligible for special school enrolment. Most parents felt constrained in choosing a school yet eager to make decisions themselves. Most described the process as rational. Findings suggest that when special school was an option, decision-making felt more restricted and complex. Factors such as difficulty accessing reliable information and pressure from professionals added to the complexity. It was concluded that final school selection did not reliably reflect parental preferences.
History
Publication title
Disability & SocietyVolume
30Issue
9Pagination
1413-1427ISSN
0968-7599Department/School
Faculty of EducationPublisher
RoutledgePlace of publication
United KingdomRights statement
Copyright 2015 Taylor & FrancisRepository Status
- Restricted