Engaging Migrant Parents in Meaningful Parent Involvement Ray Alaniz Coordinator Of Family Services North Central ESD 5/24/2019

Purpose This presentation will highlight a conceptual framework to promote promising practice for involving Hispanic parents, and newly arrived immigrant parents in their children’s education. 5/24/2019

List of the topics to be covered. Parent involvement Research Barriers to parent involvement Recruiting parents Parent training Staff training 5/24/2019

Overview Decrease in parent involvement is of great concern since research has provided evidence that there is a link between parent involvement and academic achievement. Parents For All School Teachers Equals Community Success Students 5/24/2019

Decrease in parent involvement is a concern. There is evidence of a direct link between parent involvement and academic achievement These improvements occur regardless of the economic, racial or cultural background of family. 5/24/2019

What are some barriers Culturally and linguistically diverse families remain abandoned from the school system due to a variety of barriers which include: Work interference Lack of confidence Lack of English language skills Lack of partnership understanding Lack of understanding of school system Negative past experience with school Lack of sensitivity on the part of school 5/24/2019

In a study of sixteen Hispanic families in leadership classes Parents became more involved in instructing and monitoring homework. Their children’s grades improved Children showed greater self-esteem Knowing all this: it is important for school to engage parents in their children’s education in meaningful parent involvement. 5/24/2019

Parent involvement not defined Part of the discrepancy between the perception of teachers and parents lies with the fact that parent involvement is not clearly defined. People have different views of exactly what parent involvement is and these views are culturally variable 5/24/2019

Different views on parent involvement Parent involvement may easily mean quite different things to some parents. Advocacy Parent council or committee meetings Decision and operation of school Class aide Field trips 5/24/2019

Considering that school and parents may have a different view about what parent involvement entails, it is not unusual that parents and school have different ideas and goals relating to parent involvement. 5/24/2019

Parent Involvement can be defined as the support and participation of parents at home, in the community, and at the school site that directly and positively affect the educational performance of children. 5/24/2019

Sources of home-school conflict Individualism Child as individual Independence Praise (for positive self-esteem) Cognitive skills Oral expression Parent role to teach Personal property Collectivism Child as a group Helpfulness Criticize (for non- normative behavior) Social skills Listening to authority Teacher role, teach Sharing 5/24/2019

Meaningful parent involvement Is school district initiated Planning for a deliberate level of involvement by parents Train staff When school has prepared for and with parents. Then school district will bring parents 5/24/2019

Recruitment Parents are personally invited by school staff and by parents after much training. 5/24/2019

Parent Training Parents learn from people with whom they are comfortable with and learn about: Their basic rights when interacting with schools. Ways to support their children’s education at home. Ways to communicate with teachers. Ways the school system functions. What resources are available to their children. 5/24/2019

Parent Training What steps must be taken to go to college. Ways to support their children’s emotional development. Ways to steer their children away from risks like gangs and drugs. 5/24/2019

Teacher workshop Teachers learn about: Proven curriculum for parents. Ways to more effectively reach out and work with diverse families. Ways to hold more effective parent-teacher conferences. 5/24/2019

Parent Attitudes Parents feel more responsible for monitoring encouraging, and advocating for the academic progress and social development of their children. Parents feel more comfortable to do activities that promote the academic progress and social development of their children. 5/24/2019

Teacher Attitudes Teachers feel more comfortable working with diverse parents. Teachers are sensitive to issues that interfere with parent involvement. Teachers are more interested in meeting with parents. Teachers see parents as partners. 5/24/2019

Teacher Behaviors in the classroom. Teachers have higher expectations of students. Teachers use increased knowledge of students to inform their teaching. 5/24/2019

Parent Behaviors at Home Parents: Establish and maintain supportive home learning environment. Encourage college attendance. Identify and avoid obstacles to school success. Support children’s emotional and social development. 5/24/2019

Family-School interactions Parents navigate school system and access its available resources. Teachers reach out to parents more often. Teachers hold more conferences. Teachers give parents concrete ways to support their children’s education. Parents and teachers more frequently communicate with each other about children’s progress. 5/24/2019

Student Outcomes Short-term Students will demonstrate: Improved attendance. Increased homework completion. More positive behavior and attitudes about school 5/24/2019

Student Outcomes Long-term Students will experience: Higher grades. Higher test scores. Higher graduation rates. Greater enrollment in postsecondary education. 5/24/2019

Coordinator will train parents BEHAVIORS AT HOME RECRUITMENT PARENT ATTITUDES STUDENT OUTCOMES School Staff/ Parent Services Coordinator will train parents Short-term FAMILY-SCHOOL INTERACTIONS Long-term TEACHER ATTITUDES TEACHER WORKSHOP TEACHER BEHAVIORS IN THE CLASSROOM 5/24/2019