Expectations for and Satisfaction with Public School Kindergarten: Perspectives of Parents of Handicapped and Nonhandicapped Children

Abstract

Equal numbers of parents of handicapped (n = 50) and nonhandicapped (n = 50) children from mainstreamed public school kindergarten classrooms participated in a telephone interview regarding their children's kindergarten programs. Results indicated group differences between parental expectations for and degree of satisfaction with their children's programs but similarities in views on parent involvement. Parents of handicapped children varied more regarding what they wanted for their children than did parents of nonhandicapped children. Furthermore, what parents of handicapped children wanted did not correspond to what they received. Parents in both groups were similarly satisfied with the extent to which the kindergarten had met their needs as parents. Regardless of their children's conditions, parents emphasized the importance of communicating frequently with their children's teachers. Parents also indicated that kindergarten programs may be doing a better job meeting the needs of nonhandicapped children than of handicapped children, because teachers lack specific training.