Harry Bauman

Defense Date

7-26-2011

Graduation Date

Fall 2011

Availability

Immediate Access

Submission Type

dissertation

Degree Name

EdD

Department

Interdisciplinary Doctoral Program for Education Leaders (IDPEL)

School

School of Education

Committee Chair

Jean R. Higgins

Committee Member

Stephen J. Tomaino

Committee Member

Gibbs Kanyongo

Keywords

Parental involvement

Abstract

Education accountability has risen due to the requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) legislation, and practitioners are working harder, and with more creativity, than at any other time in recent history to find ways to improve student achievement. If a school fails to meet what has been determined to be "adequate yearly progress" (AYP), a mandated set of prescriptive guidelines, requirements and sanctions, are imposed by the government. One of these requirements is that an improvement plan be developed and approved by the department of education. This plan must include a listing of policies and procedures that define how the school will improve and increase the involvement of its parents and community.

The involvement of parents in the education of their children has been shown to have a significant impact on the student's achievement in school. Improving parental involvement has become an increasingly evident theme in federal legislation over the last two decades. NCLB and other educational legislation require the adoption of parent involvement policies that will build the schools' and the parents' capacity to work together.

Since a great number of high schools are preparing these improvement plans, now is an advantageous time for gathering information on programs, activities, and initiatives being instituted by high schools that are improving the number, as well as the quality, of the parents' involvement in the education of their high school age children. Idea sharing, brainstorming, and heated debate are happening any time two or more educators get together.

The work of this study will be to survey high school principals, teachers, and involved parents, to determine what, in this fertile and active education environment, is working to increase the amount and quality of parent involvement at the high school level. This information will add to the body of collective educational tools used to increase the quantity and quality of parental involvement practices at the secondary level. Special attention will be given to parental involvement programs that are proving effective in districts facing the added educational and social challenges that arise from poverty.

Format

PDF

Language

English

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