Parental engagement in charter school board governance/

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Sunday 11:45 am - Gold 3
  In Roundtable Session: Leadership and engagement: Buildling equitable partnership

Abstract

This longitudinal study examines parental representation on Massachusetts charter school boards from 2001 to 2014, utilizing a unique dataset of 860 school-year observations framed by Joyce Epstein’s involvement model. Comparing schools with and without parent trustees reveals a marked decline in representation over time, predominantly in institutions serving wealthier, less diverse student populations. Contrary to expectations, parent board presence correlates minimally with academic outcomes, suggesting self-selection biases and equity barriers for disadvantaged families. These insights highlight governance disparities, urging reforms for inclusive decision-making to enhance charter school efficacy and accountability.

Authors

• Charisse A. Gulosino, University of Memphis

• Elif Sisli Ciamarra, Stonehill College