Academic Parent-Teacher Teams: A New System for Parent Engagement

• In Event: Poster Session 15
  In Poster Session: Division H Section 1 Poster

Abstract

Evidence of parents’ pivotal role in students’ success is overwhelming, yet little research evidence exists on how to better capitalize on parent involvement to foster student learning. Academic Parent-Teacher Teams (APTT), a new system of student-centered, academically focused, parent engagement was examined in the current study. Quantitative and qualitative results showed that increasing the quality and quantity of parent-teacher communication and interaction and supporting parents to engage in home practice with their children fostered significant changes in students’ knowledge of high frequency words and reading fluency scores. Qualitative results complemented the quantitative outcomes. Taken together, the APTT process and results suggest APTT is a viable, new approach to parental engagement in education that is more personal, student-centered, and academically focused.

Authors

• Maria C. Paredes, WestEd

• Ray R. Buss, Arizona State University