Reimaging Family-School Partnerships Amid Societal Changes in Finnish Education

• In Event: Home-school engagement and partnerships

Abstract

This qualitative case study explores how societal changes in Finland are reshaping the role of families in education. Guided by Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory, data were collected through interviews, observations, and document analysis across seven educational sites in Helsinki. Findings highlight increased classroom diversity, policy shifts such as extended compulsory education, and evolving family-school dynamics. Despite these changes, strong trust and shared responsibility between families and schools remain central. However, participants noted potential tensions between new policies and Finland’s historically family-centered approach. This study offers insights into how family-school partnerships adapt within trusted public systems and contributes to the AERA 2026 theme by examining how historically grounded values can inform future-facing educational strategies amid societal transformation.

Authors

• Isaac McCann, Oklahoma State University

• Haley McCray, Oklahoma State University

• Starr Holmes, Oklahoma State University

• Vanessa Collins, Oklahoma State University

• Jentre J. Olsen, Oklahoma State University

• Katherine A. Curry, Oklahoma State University