Parent Engagement in Failing Schools: Opportunities to Redress Systemic Inequalities Through Justice-Oriented District-Level Research

• In Event: Innovative Approaches to Addressing Equity

Abstract

This study was designed by district-level researchers in response to administrator interest in designing parent engagement supports to improve student performance in turnaround schools. To identify parent engagement factors that were most predictive of student performance, the researchers applied Social Ecological Theory (Brabeck, Sibley & Lykes, 2016) to examine the relationship between parent engagement (parent beliefs, at-home involvement and at-school involvement) and student performance in English and Language Arts (ELA) in Priority and Focus Schools. Notably, preliminary results indicated that there was a significant positive relationship between cash assistance and ELA performance.

Authors

• Charisse Nerissa Southwell, Broward County Public Schools

• Justin Lauro

• Michelle Beason-Rahming