Strengthening Parent Involvement Through Formal Adult Education Courses: A Comparative Case Study

• In Event: Parents and Communities

Abstract

This comparative case study explores the relationship between participation in adult education courses and parent involvement in the education of school-age children. The study considers the knowledge, experiences, social capital, and self-efficacy dimensions of this relationship. Two programs in a suburban Maryland county serve as the cases. Data sources include class observations, semi-structured interviews with instructors and program staff, and program documents. The course content and program emphases influence the nature of connections between adult education and parent involvement. Adult education instructors serve as brokers of knowledge about schools and expectations for parent involvement. These findings suggest adult education programs can assist schools seeking to strengthen involvement among parents with less formal education or limited English proficiency.

Author

• Catherine Dunn Shiffman, Shenandoah University