02/29/2024
By Zakkiyya Witherspoon

The School of Education invites you to attend a doctoral dissertation defense by Kathleen Marie Desmarais on “Parent Empowerment Plus: Disrupting Disproportionality in Special Education Eligibility and Placement."

Candidate: Kathleen Marie Desmarais
Degree: Doctoral- Leadership in Schooling
Defense Date: Thursday, March 14, 2024
Time: 10 a.m.
Location: Remote via Zoom
Thesis/Dissertation Title: Parent Empowerment Plus: Disrupting Disproportionality in Special Education Eligibility and Placement

Dissertation Committee

  • Dissertation Chair: Phitsamay Sychitkokhong Uy, Ed.D., Associate Professor, Leadership in Schooling, Graduate Coordinator for Ed.D. Programs, & Co-director of Center for Asian American Studies, School of Education, University of Massachusetts Lowell
  • Dissertation Committee Member: James H. Nehring, Ed.D., Professor, Leadership in Schooling, School of Education, University of Massachusetts Lowell
  • Dissertation Committee Member/Mentor: Christina Whittlesey, Ph.D., Adjunct Faculty, School of Education, University of Massachusetts Lowell

Abstract
Race-based over-representation in special education, or disproportionality, is a pervasive equity issue correlated with poorer educational outcomes. While racial disproportionality is described widely in literature as a persistent and significant problem, few studies suggest ways to positively disrupt this pattern. This study aimed to test whether participation in informational training increases parents/caregivers’ efficacy in the special education process as a potential change lever. This three-manuscript dissertation presents two Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) iterative cycles designed to increase parents/caregivers’ efficacy in exercising their procedural rights in the referral, evaluation, eligibility, and placement process as a potential means to reduce race-based over-representation in special education. 

The hypothesis was that informed parents/caregivers would advocate for special education services in inclusive settings. Mixed methods were used, with quantitative data in the form of surveys and qualitative data generated from semi-structured interviews. Convenience sampling was used to identify potential participants. A significant limitation to the PDSA cycles were low response rates. For the first PDSA cycle in the spring of 2023, seven participants responded to the surveys, and a single participant completed an interview. Results were mixed, with quantitative data suggesting no improvement in efficacy, and qualitative data pointing to some improvement. A second PDSA cycle was initiated in the fall of 2023. Participation remained low, with four respondents completing training sessions and pre-and post-training surveys and just two engaging in post-training interviews. The data collected showed improvement for parents/caregivers’ efficacy, suggesting the practice should continue. While this practice showed promise, more action research is needed to dismantle racial disproportionality in special education eligibility and placement.