19. How do we address parents’ concerns about their students in a co-taught
class?
Implementing co-teaching in a school is like any other change in an educational
environment. The more information parents have, the more likely they will
understand the benefits for their student in a co-taught class. The LEA should
communicate at the first of the school year about the co-teaching model,
expectations for students, teachers, and the selection process; this will help
alleviate some of the issues. A principal can identify, through a master schedule,
which classes and teachers participate in co-teaching, have in place a policy on
class grouping, and ensure that parent and teacher input has been gathered and
considered. As professionals, teachers in a co-taught class have a responsibility
to listen to parents, ask questions and work on solutions to resolve parent
concerns or fears. Co-teaching is an option both for students with disabilities and
for other students.