Control, Capability, Commitment, and Capitalism: A Discourse Analysis of Parent Fund-Raising at a Public School

• In Event: The Impact of Uneven Parental Involvement on Student Outcomes

Abstract

Research examining the impact of parent fundraising on educational equity highlights a significant disparity between donations obtained by high- versus low-socioeconomic status public schools, which widens the educational opportunity gap. This discourse analysis of a high-fundraising elementary school parent organization examines how parents promote an activity that results in unequal educational resources between their school and the others in the district. Findings reveal that parent fundraisers emphasize themes of control, capability, commitment, and capitalism in their solicitations. The study suggests counter-narratives could be used to persuade affluent parents to fundraise on behalf of all students, not just their own, as districts confront major budget cuts in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Author

• Debby Lu, San Francisco State University