Mechanisms for Teacher Outreach to Parents in Charter and Traditional Public Schools

• In Event: Teacher Preparations and Home-School Partnerships

Abstract

This study examines the mechanisms hypothesized to support teacher outreach to parents: teacher dispositions, school policies, parent empowerment in classrooms and schools, and sector. Using a series of two-level hierarchical linear models, we did not estimate a statistically significant difference between teachers in charter schools and matched traditional public schools in their outreach to parents, controlling for other teacher-level factors. Teacher outreach was positively associated with higher teacher self-efficacy, more positive beliefs about parent involvement, and greater parent influence in classrooms. Pro-parent-involvement policies implemented by schools were estimated to have a positive effect on teacher outreach. This study adds to our understanding of how teachers and schools can interact to lead to higher levels of outreach from teachers to parents.

Authors

• Bess A. Rose, Johns Hopkins University

• Marc L. Stein, Johns Hopkins University