Latino Parental Involvement in American Schools

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Latino Parental Involvement in American Schools

• EDCI 6300-95
• Kimberly D. Christmon
• August 2, 2007

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Introduction

• The No Child Left Behind Act of 2006 requires
  educators to develop strategies to engage
  families and increase parental involvement in
  Latino families. One of the goals is for students
  to reap the positive benefits or parental
  involvement. Therefore, it is important for
  educators to understand the barriers that prevent
  or hamper parental involvement in the school
  system.

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Objectives/Overview

• List Latino demographics
• Define Parental Involvement
• Identify Barriers to Parental Involvement with
  Latinos
• Identify Tactics to Enhance Parental Involvement
  with Latinos
• List Resources that Can Enhance Latino Parental
  Involvement in the School System

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Latino Demographics

• Davidson County Population according to the 2005
  U.S. Census
• 569,891
• Latinos in Davidson County
• 6.3 of total population
• Native-Tongue Speakers at Home (including
  Latinos)
• 9.8 of total population

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What is Parental Involvement?

• Ascher suggests
• Activities such as
• Promoting the value of education at home
• Decision maker in policy, curriculum,
  instruction
• Greenmen Pettygrove suggests
• Activities such as
• Policy making, parent education, fund raising,
  volunteering, information exchange
• Others suggest
• Helping with homework

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Latino Barriers to Involvement

• Communication and/or Language Issues
• Shame
• Cultural Beliefs
• Lack of Understanding U.S. Educational
  Philosophies
• Discrimination
• Lack of Time

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Communication Barrier

• 50 Languages by Small Number of Students
• Lack of Effective Communication Can Adversely
  Affect Parental Involvement
• Inability to Understand
• Embarrassment
• Discouragement

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Shame Barrier

• Language/Communication Problems
• Poor Education in Native Land
• Low Socioeconomic Status
• 22 Latinos living in poverty according to 2003
  U.S. Census

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Cultural Lack of Understanding Barrier

• School and home are 2 different realms
• Questioning teachers may be seen as rude and
  disrespectful
• Complete Trust in the American educational system
• Dont realize they are needed to assist in
  education

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Discrimination

• English-only culture
• Undocumented residents
• Low socio-economic status
• Language cultural differences

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Communication Strategy

• Educators and administrators should know the
  languages that are spoken at the school.
• Employment of bilingual or multilingual teachers,
  assistants, or volunteers.
• School workshops for teachers
• Communication should be sent home in the students
  native tongue whenever possible
• Translators or interpreters at all meetings

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Shame and Discrimination Strategy

• Schools should be inviting and accepting for all
  families and students.
• Cultural sensitivity classes may need to be
  employed.
• Self-evaluation regarding an educators negative
  feelings or perceptions about Latino families.

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Lack of Understanding Strategy

• Relationships between schools and families must
  be formed immediately.
• For preschool students, orientations could be
  held a month prior to the beginning of school.
• Teachers can use orientation meetings to document
  information regarding the childs abilities,
  strengths, needs, and learning styles prior to
  the first day of school.

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Cultural Strategy

• Face-to-face meetings may lessen the dangers of
  misinterpretation between educators and families.
• Enlist the help of other diverse families during
  school functions.
• Research cultures to become more familiar with
  traditions, values, and beliefs.

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AVANCE Incorporated

• Nonprofit organization in Texas that primarily
  assists poor and Latino children
• Goal is to improve academic success by focusing
  on the parents
• Parent love their children and will do anything
  to support them.
• Parents who participant in AVANCE programs are
  motivated to learn and to integrate new
  information and skills into family life.

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Helpful Website 1

• AVANCE Unlocking Americas Potential
• http//www.avance.org/
• The site is useful for parents, children,
  educators, guidance counselors, and those
  interested in Latino advancement

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Other AVANCE Advantages

• Even Start
• Family Literacy Program
• Families learn English
• 90 of children were rated at average or
  above-average
• Help parents to become partners in their
  childrens education
• Improves educational opportunities for parents
  and children
• Help children to reach their potential as
  learners
• Provide literacy training for parents
• GED college
• Teach families to use the resources of the
  community

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Helpful Website 2

• Tennessee Foreign Language Institute
• http//www.foreignlanguages.org/index2.shtm
• This site is useful for educators, parents, and
  administrators for enhancing communication with
  Latino families.

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Helpful Website 3

• The American Association of Teachers of Spanish
  and Portuguese (AATSP)
• https//www.aatsp.org
• This site is useful for educators who desire to
  promote the study and teaching of Hispanic
  languages, literatures, and cultures.

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Helpful Website 4

• Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund
  (MALDEF)
• http//www.maldef.org/education/index.html
• This site is useful for Latino parents and
  advocates and it offers an extensive course
  providing them with the knowledge and tools
  necessary to advocate for a quality education for
  their children.

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Helpful Website 5

• Urban League of Middle Tennessee
• http//www.urbanleagueofmidtn.org
• This site is useful for legal parents and
  extended family members who are seeking
  employment through workforce development programs.

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Print Resources/References

• Ascher, C. (1987). Improving the School-Home
  Connection for Poor and Minority Urban Students.
  New York ERIC Clearinghouse for Urban and
  Minority Education.
• Edwards, Patricia, et al. (2005). Preparing
  Educators to Connect with Families and
  Communities. Greenwich, CT Information Age
  Publishing

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Additional Print Resources/References

• Gonzalez, Gabriella. (2005). Educational
  Attainment in Immigrant Families Community
  Context and Family Background. New York LFB
  Scholarly Publishing, LLC.
• Greenmen, J. T., Pettygrove, W. B. (1984).
  Making Day Care Better Training, Evaluation and
  the Process of Change. New York Teachers College
  Press.
• U.S. Department of Education. No Child Left
  Behind Act. Retrieved from World Wide Web on
  August 2, 2007. http//www.ed.gov.html

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Conclusion

• Research indicates that parental involvement can
  positively affect the educational endeavors of
  students.
• Once educators can identify barriers that prevent
  or hamper parental involvement in Latino
  families, strategies can be developed and
  utilized to address the issues.
• A positive correlation should be noted between
  addressing these barriers and increased Latino
  parental involvement in the school system.