A handbook for educators: Encouraging parent involvement in low SES middle schools

Parent involvement has been the focus of many educational research studies since the release of Equality of educational opportunity (1966), which concluded that parents and home environment determine students' academic success. Since that time, educators have worked toward identifying effective strategies to increase home-school collaboration in an effort to support low performing students. However, parent involvement in student education typically declines during the demanding transition to middle school and into adolescence. Educators are also faced with the challenge of addressing the discrepancy that exists between low and higher socioeconomic status (SES) populations in terms of the quality and quantity of parent involvement practices. Parent-related and educator-related barriers exist that appear to impair a supportive relationship between diverse, low SES families and educators. Middle and high school years are particularly critical times requiring continued parental support. In this era of educational accountability, it is essential for educators to address the challenging task of increasing parent involvement for their low performing students, often from low SES and diverse families.;The present project centers on the development of A handbook for educators: Encouraging parent involvement in low SES middle schools (A handbook for educators). This handbook was developed to provide educators with pertinent information and strategies to address parent involvement when working with diverse students in a low SES middle school. The heart of this project is research findings and identified strategies to address the challenges faced by educators. Specifically, teacher-related barriers, such as motivation and efficacy; as well as parent-related barriers, such as limited education and apprehension as a means to encouraging parent involvement are addressed. Educators who currently work in a diverse low SES middle school provided feedback on the handbook through an evaluation form.;Research indicates parent involvement is a critical component in increasing the academic achievement of students. The specific parent involvement activities: parenting, communicating, supporting school, learning at home, decision-making, and collaborating with community are suggested as successful types of parent involvement activities for middle school students, despite race, background, and SES. The present project explores information and resources to assist educators in encouraging participation in these effective parent involvement activities, at a middle school, servicing a primarily Latino and African American low SES population. Educators who evaluated this project viewed A handbook for educators as a promising resource in encouraging parent involvement at their middle school.