The College of Education, Health and
Human Sciences
Announces the Final Examination of
Willie C. Williams
for the degree of
Doctor of Education, Ed.D
June 30, 2014 at 3:00 pm
Ball Hall, University of Memphis
Memphis, TN
Biographical Sketch
Bachelors of Science, Zoology, Arkansas State University
Masters of Science, Biology, Arkansas State University
Advisory Committee
Dr. Larry McNeal, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Leadership
Dr. Reginald Green, Ed.D., Professor, Department of Leadership
Dr. William C. Hunter, Ed.D., Assistant Professor, Instruction and Curriculum Leadership
Dr. Helen Perkins, Ed.D., Associate Professor, Instruction and Curriculum Leadership
Major Field of Study
Leadership and Policy Studies
Period of Preparation: Fall 2012 – Summer 2014
Comprehensive Examination Passed, November, 2012
Parent Perceptions of Parental Involvement in a Mid-South Suburban School District
Abstract
This study examined the perceptions of parents on their role in involvement in their children’s education and determined if there was a difference in parents’ perception of parental engagement based on ethnicity. The data used in this study was collected in 2013 from a sample of parents of elementary (K-5) and secondary (6-12) students in a mid-south suburban school district that consists of rural, urban and suburban schools. The following questions were researched in the dissertation: 1) What role does parent’s perception of child rearing values, goals, and expectations have when considering academic norms and behavior norms at school?; 2) What role does parent’s reported actions and behaviors have in child’s day-to-day education?; 3) What role does parent’s reported actions and behaviors related to major educational decisions have in the child’s education?; and 4) Is there a significant difference in parents’ perception of parental engagement based on ethnicity on the thirty three individual items and across the four constructs? The responses to survey questions provided the answers for the research questions. Size of measurement and exploration of relationships through descriptive research, correlation research and group comparisons are emphasized in a quantitative viewpoint.
Findings in this study are consistent with the argument that many parents are involved effectively in their children’s education despite the consequences of cultural backgrounds and family circumstances. There is not a statistically significant difference found in parents’ perception of parental engagement based on ethnicity on the thirty three individual items and across the four constructs in the majority of the respondents.
Considerable effort must be made to engage parents in their children’s schooling. However, to best achieve this task practitioners must explore parents’ current understanding of parental involvement, how parents view what actions they are to take in regards to involvement and what are the expectations and perceived indicators of success of desired outcomes for that involvement. Further, practitioners should make the effort to understand the parents that they serve and convey that their opinions and suggestions are desired and important. To achieve such phenomenon, parents must feel welcomed and valued as equal participants in their child’s education.