1. Parental Educational Participation
In Los Angeles
Veronica Terriquez, USC Sociology
USC Center for the Study of Immigrant Integration
UCLA Institute for Democracy, Education, and Access

2. Promoting Individual Student Academic Achievement
GOALS OF PARENT ENGAGEMENT
Promoting Individual Student Academic Achievement
Supporting School Programs
Holding Schools Accountable

3. TYPES OF INVOLVEMENT AND THEIR BENEFITS
Parental Educational Involvement at Home
Parental Involvement in School-Sponsored Activities
Parental Engagement in School Governance
& School Change
Picture Source:

4. Parental socio-economic status often impacts school involvement
PATTERNS OF SCHOOL PARTICIPATION
Parental socio-economic status often impacts school involvement
In general, parents of diverse racial backgrounds participate equally in their children’s schools
After living in the USA 10 years, Latino immigrants are as involved as non-immigrant parents

5. PATTERNS OF SCHOOL PARTICIPATION
Mothers are more involved in school activities than fathers, but fathers are not absent from the schooling process
73%
65%
33%
24%
32%
17%
22%

6. PATTERNS OF SCHOOL PARTICIPATION
Parents in schools with majority free and reduced lunch students report higher levels of participation in school improvement efforts
33%
Schools with Majority Free and Reduced Lunch Students
25%
Schools with Minority Free and Reduced Lunch Students

7. PARENT ASPIRATIONS
In LA County, 91% of public school parents expect their children to graduate from college.
Data Source: LA Parent Engagement Study, 2010

8. BEST PRACTICS FOR PROMOTING PARENTAL ENGAGEMENT
Offering parents trainings and workshops on topics such as:
Enhancing children’s learning at home
Navigating the school system
Parent rights and responsibilities
Reviewing and understanding student/school data
English Language Learning Program and Testing
Preparing for college
School policy and governance

9. BEST PRACTICS FOR PROMOTING PARENTAL ENGAGEMENT
Being mindful of parents’ needs when planning school activities for parents.
Using various methods of outreach to mothers and fathers
Providing parents information in their own language
Offering child-care
Scheduling activities at times convenient for parents
Offering opportunities for parents to share their experiences and points of view

10. BEST PRACTICS FOR PROMOTING PARENTAL ENGAGEMENT
Supporting administrators and other school personnel so that they can devote time and resources to parent engagement:
Principal and/or other administrator visibility can boost parent participation
Administrators can ensure that schools offer meaningful opportunities for parent engagement
Teachers sometimes need guidance and support to effectively engage parents
School/community liaisons can play an important role in parent outreach and community building
Community organizations can serve as a resource