Date of Award
2004
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Department
Fischler Graduate School of Education and Human Services
Advisor
William Anderson
Committee Member
Maryellen Maher
Keywords
active parental involvement, administrators, attendance, children, discipline referrals, educational experience, failing grades, home visits, parent participation, parental engagement, parents, rapport, relationships, school climate, school setting, school staff, student attendance, student discipline referrals, student grades, teacher-parent cooperation, youth
Abstract
Parental engagement is a key component in the educational experience of youth. The review of literature overwhelmingly supported the concept that parents need to be involved with their children both at home and within the school setting.
This applied dissertation was conducted in a nontraditional school with a student population that did not exceed 60. This writer hypothesized that student grades would improve, the rate of student discipline referrals would lower, and student attendance would increase when parents were actively engaged with the school. His findings indicated that failing grades were reduced, student discipline referrals were lessened, and student attendance increased when parents were actively involved.
This writer concluded that two factors were key to involving parents within the school setting. The first and foremost was when school staff took the initiative in building relationships with parents by making home visits. The second area of importance was when administrators and teachers accepted the fact that parents were an integral part in establishing the school climate. When rapport was cultivated and relationships formed between school staff and parents, the primary beneficiaries were the children.