Date of Award
2004
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Department
Fischler Graduate School of Education and Human Services
Advisor
William Thayer
Committee Member
Marcia O’Brien
Committee Member
Maryellen Maher
Keywords
calendar events, elementary schools, family participation, Home and School Association, K-8 schools, parent participation, parent school relationship, parental involvement, parent volunteers, report card conferences, school council, School Assistance Team, teacher workshops, tutor mentors, urban schools, volunteer programs, workshops for parents, workshops for teachers
Abstract
This applied dissertation was designed to increase the parental involvement at a large, urban, K-8 elementary school with a very diverse population. The school had little or no parental involvement. Few parents attended report card conferences. There was no active Home and School Association or School Council. Parent volunteers were almost nonexistent.
The objectives of this applied dissertation were that at least 75% of the parents at T School would be in attendance at parent/teacher conferences, at least 35% of the school's families would participate and vote in the school council election, and at least 10% of the parents would volunteer at T School.
The researcher implemented strategies to increase parent involvement. Information going home to parents in the form of calendar events, workshops, meetings, report card conferences, and monthly newsletters were translated into first languages. Meeting times were varied. Workshops for teachers were conducted on how to interact with parents and how to utilize parents as volunteers. Workshops for parents were held on organization of a volunteer program and how to be a tutor/mentor.
As a result of these implemented strategies, two of the three objectives of this applied dissertation were met. An overwhelming 81% of the parents attended report card conferences. There was no school council election, but a parent did become a member of the School Assistance Team and a Home and School Association was formed. Parent volunteers at the school were still very low. The staff and administration will continue to implement these strategies over a longer period of time with the goal of having an active school council and more parent volunteers.