“There is So Much to Consider”: School-Related Decisions and Experiences among Families who Adopt Noninfant Children

Abstract

Parents who adopt noninfant children often find that these children have academic and behavioral difficulties and may have experienced trauma—challenges that may have implications for school decision making and experiences. This qualitative study examined school selection processes and experiences among lesbian, gay, and heterosexual parents who had adopted children over the age of 24 months (N = 18 families) 5 years earlier. Practical factors (e.g., cost and location) and the unique needs of their children (e.g., diagnoses, trauma history) were often more pressing than race and family structure (i.e., lesbian/gay-parent headed) considerations in selecting schools. Parents encountered complex challenges in establishing and maintaining appropriate school supports and services. Parents and school staff should work collaboratively using trauma-sensitive approaches to help adopted children succeed in school.