Family Engagement Across the Transition From Elementary to Middle School: Parent Perspectives on Supports and Barriers in a Professional Development School

• In Event: 25.086 - Sheraton Roundtable Session One - Grand Centre
  In Roundtable Session: 25.086-9 - Research to Improve Practices in Professional Development Schools

Abstract

Bringing families and schools together has long been acknowledged as a factor that has a positive correlation with a young adolescent’s academic achievement (Epstein, 1990; Sheldon, 2016). At the same time, families become less engaged with schools during the middle grades. The purpose of this study was to explore parent perspectives of family engagement across their child’s school transition from fifth grade in an elementary school to sixth grade in a PDS middle school.

This study makes practical contributions for both research and practice in the field of school transitions and family engagement. Parent participants overwhelmingly believed elementary and middle schools involved in school transition should focus on clear, consistent, concise communication between families and schools.

Author

• Melissa Baker, University of South Carolina