Socioeconomic Differences in Israeli-Arab Parent Involvement in School (Poster 32)

• In Event: Thursday Poster Session 4:20 pm
  In Poster Session: Critical Issues in Family, School, Community Partnerships

Abstract

The study examines Israeli-Arab parents’ school involvement, which is a minority group that experiences residential and educational segregation. This situation can be an opportunity to reveal distinct patterns of school involvement. The research involves 20 semi-structured interviews with parents of children in elementary schools. Results revealed six themes. Three were related to the ways they get involved (e.g., giving gifts to schools), and the additional three themes emphasized the significance of education that were fundamental for the patterns of parental involvement. Several differences between high and low-socioeconomic parents were revealed. Being in a segregated position seems to challenge our understanding of minority involvement in schools and can encourage policy-makers and teachers to adopt new ways of reaching out to parents.

Authors

• Jehan Halomy Shalabny, Tel Aviv University

• Audrey Addi-Raccah, Tel Aviv University