When a child is identified as a student with a disability, families are called upon to become more involved than ever before. Primarily, they are to act as team members in making crucial decisions about their child's future education. Sadly, many parents are not recognized as having valuable information regarding their child. In order to act as effective team members, to make informed decisions, and to advocate effectively for their child, parents need the appropriate tools. Informing parents about the many terms and vocabulary words that are used would be tremendously helpful. In addition, parents may need knowledge of eligibility staffing procedures, dismissal procedures, and how decisions are made concerning the educational placement of their child. Most important, parents need knowledge concerning their rights as a parent of a Special Education (SPED) child. These tools can be provided through carefully implemented parent education programs embedded in collaboration and mutual respect between the schools and the caregivers. A child's achievement in school can be impacted by many factors. Excellent teaching, a classroom where the child's needs can be met, appropriate support services such as speech or language classes, and a suitable curriculum designed to meet specific needs are just some of the components of a quality environment in which to learn. Family involvement in the decision making regarding these components is essential for the student's achievement and future success. The better informed parents are in the areas of SPED vocabulary, procedures, and parent rights, the better the quality of the decisions made on the student's behalf. Good quality collaboration between teacher and parent is where this process needs to begin. Ultimately, the responsibility for the child's success in school lies with informed parents working in collaboration with the special education team.