Strong parent partnerships are essential to effective special education, as collaboration between families and educators provides students with disabilities with academic, social and emotional, and behavioral support. While laws like the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act mandate involvement, genuine collaboration requires ongoing, intentional effort. Building trust can be challenging when families have felt unheard or excluded. Because of this, it’s crucial that educators adopt proactive, empathetic, and inclusive practices. The following six strategies offer evidence-based ways to strengthen trust and foster meaningful family partnerships. 1. Start with Empathy, Not Expertise One of the most impactful ways to initiate a strong relationship with families is to lead with empathy. Parents of children with disabilities often carry years (sometimes decades) of advocacy fatigue and emotional stress. They may have navigated complex systems, fought for evaluations or services, or felt blamed for their child’s needs. When educators begin relationships by deeply listening—not by presenting data or outlining expertise—they can create a foundation of trust. Research supports the importance of empathetic listening in education contexts. Validating parent experiences and actively listening to their concerns leads to families feeling significantly more valued and successful in their meetings. Create a welcome survey. When a new student joins your school, send home a short, strengths-based form. For example: “What brings your child joy?” “What’s something they’re great at?” “What is one thing that has helped them succeed in the past?” Reflect on those insights during the individualized education program (IEP) process to demonstrate that their voice is shaping the school experience, and be sure to share this information with support staff and teachers.