Muchos Somos Más Fuertes: Testimonios of Latina Parent Leaders in the LCAP Process

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Sesion 4
  In Roundtable Session: Family Engagement: Exploring the Possibilities of Family Engagement in Complex and Contentious Contexts

Abstract

This phenomenological study used the critical methodology of testimonios to document Latina parent leaders’ experience in their participation in the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) process. The LCAP is a three-year plan where California districts document equitable strategies and funding allocations for the year. The study recruited eight parent leaders across Los Angeles County, California. The findings emphasize that the school system is not neutral. Instead, it is an instrument of cultural hegemony, which negatively impacted the Latina parent leaders’ meaningful engagement in the LCAP process. The testimonios revealed the importance of community organizations for Latino parent leaders and their ability to help disrupt the school system’s power imbalance.

Author

• Sylvia J Hodge, Loyola Marymount University