Veronica Terriquez, USC Sociology

1
Parental Educational Participation In Los Angeles
1.24.11
Veronica Terriquez, USC Sociology USC Center for
the Study of Immigrant Integration UCLA
Institute for Democracy, Education, and Access
2
GOALS OF PARENT ENGAGEMENT

• Promoting Individual Student Academic Achievement
• Supporting School Programs
• Holding Schools Accountable

3
TYPES OF INVOLVEMENT AND THEIR BENEFITS

• Parental Educational Involvement at Home
• Parental Involvement in School-Sponsored
  Activities
• Parental Engagement in School Governance
• School Change

Picture Source http//www.cssspnql.com/eng/petite
-enfance/involvement.htm
4
PATTERNS OF SCHOOL PARTICIPATION

• Parental socio-economic status often impacts
  school involvement
• In general, parents of diverse racial backgrounds
  participate equally in their childrens schools
• After living in the USA 10 years, Latino
  immigrants are as involved as non-immigrant
  parents

5
PATTERNS OF SCHOOL PARTICIPATION

• Mothers are more involved in school activities
  than fathers, but fathers are not absent from the
  schooling process
•  

6
PATTERNS OF SCHOOL PARTICIPATION
Parents in schools with majority free and
reduced lunch students report higher levels of
participation in school improvement efforts
33 Schools with Majority Free and Reduced Lunch
Students
25 Schools with Minority Free and Reduced Lunch
Students
7
PARENT ASPIRATIONS
In LA County, 91 of public school parents
expect their children to graduate from
college. Data Source LA Parent Engagement
Study, 2010
8
BEST PRACTICS FOR PROMOTING PARENTAL ENGAGEMENT

• Offering parents trainings and workshops on
  topics such as
• Enhancing childrens learning at home
• Navigating the school system
• Parent rights and responsibilities
• Reviewing and understanding student/school data
• English Language Learning Program and Testing
• Preparing for college
• School policy and governance

9
BEST PRACTICS FOR PROMOTING PARENTAL ENGAGEMENT

• Being mindful of parents needs when planning
  school activities for parents.
• Using various methods of outreach to mothers and
  fathers
• Providing parents information in their own
  language
• Offering child-care
• Scheduling activities at times convenient for
  parents
• Offering opportunities for parents to share their
  experiences and points of view

10
BEST PRACTICS FOR PROMOTING PARENTAL ENGAGEMENT

• Supporting administrators and other school
  personnel so that they can devote time and
  resources to parent engagement
• Principal and/or other administrator visibility
  can boost parent participation
• Administrators can ensure that schools offer
  meaningful opportunities for parent engagement
• Teachers sometimes need guidance and support to
  effectively engage parents
• School/community liaisons can play an important
  role in parent outreach and community building
• Community organizations can serve as a resource

11
(No Transcript)