Survey Results Reveal Teacher-Parent Interactions Distinguish Odds-Beating High Schools
By Catherine Kramer, Research Assistant, Kristen Wilcox, Director of Research and Development, Kathryn Schiller, Co-Investigator
School culture survey results, part of the college and career readiness study, reveal that the clearest difference between odds-beaters and their typically performing peers involves teacher-parent interactions.
Several of these odds-beaters serve higher percentages of ethnically, linguistically, and socioeconomically diverse students than the state average. This underscores the significance of this finding as schools serving larger percentages of these populations often, according to prior research, experience challenges engaging parents.
The survey explored staff perceptions of: (1) school life quality; (2) relationships between members of the school community; and (3) staff cultural diversity attitudes.
Efforts to Break Down Barriers to Engage Parents
During site visits, NYKids teams found that many odds-beating high school educators talked about the importance of engaging parents. Staff members at these schools recounted efforts to break down barriers and create partnerships with parents of all backgrounds (Read More). This contrasts with typical performing schools because staff at these schools express the view that parent relationships remain strained despite efforts to improve. Three aspects of staff perceptions in the survey stand out:
1. Higher Assessment of Parents’ Expectations
In odds-beating schools, 91% of staff members agree that most parents have high educational expectations for their children. This contrasts with only 57% of staff at typically performing schools agreeing with this statement (a 34% difference). See ways educators at Port Chester increase expectations for rigorous course-taking.
2. Higher Assessment of Parental Support
Staff at odds-beating schools also report receiving support from parents at higher rates (69% vs. 51% at typically performing). Crown Point offers some examples of efforts placed on good communications with parents.
3. Greater Involvement of Diverse Parents
Finally, odds-beating school staff members report greater involvement of the parents of diverse students’ in the school (81% at odds-beating vs. 59%). Interviews at Freeport reveal that one way they do this is to make available bilingual staff members who can reach out to parents and help them feel at ease in the school.
These findings even more important given the renewed emphasis placed on parent engagement by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). ESSA requires schools to offer programs that engage parents and provide opportunities for parents to be consulted.
Read more about these findings in the study report.
