Goals, Power, and Culture: School Organizational Features Promoting Parental Involvement in Children's Education

• In Event: Park Central Roundtable Session 1
  In Roundtable Session: Advocating for Marginalized Families and Communities

Abstract

Guided by key concepts of organizational theory for effective organizations, this project incorporates data mining approaches to the analysis of a national longitudinal data set (ECLS-K: 2011) in order to investigate ways in which schools can be structured to increase parental involvement in children’s education. Although mandated, many programs promoting parental participation are unsuccessful. The study examines which of three key school organizational features—goals, power dynamics, and culture—individually or combined, predicts parental involvement. Multiple nuanced school types are identified. Results suggest that priority to engage parents in school social life is a key organizational feature. The study reflects the initial phases of a larger quasi-experimental investigation.

Author

• Vandeen Campbell, The City University of New York