Parent Involvement

Brief History
1970s: Studies reveal positive and lasting impact of parent
involvement in early childhood education.
1980s: Researchers focus on the impact socioeconomic status
has on achievement.
1990s: Researchers focus on school, home and/or community
partnerships.
2000s: Researchers focus on effective parent engagement
practices and minority populations.
Important Aspects
When schools build partnerships with families that respond to their
concerns and honor their contributions, they are successful in
sustaining connections that are aimed at improving student
achievement (Henderson & Mapp, 2002, p. 8).

Key Terms
*Parent Engagement
Traditional
Non-traditional

*Family Literacy
*Funds of Knowledge
*Epstein Framework

Major Developments & Key Researchers

Epstein Model: Six Types of Involvement parenting, communicating,
volunteering, learning at home, decision making, collaborating with
community (Henderson & Mapp, 2002).
Denny Taylor coined the term family literacy in 1983 (Bonci,
Mottram, McCoy, & Cole, 2011).
Traditionally, literacy has been defined as the ability to read and
write, but over the past twenty years, this conventional definition of
literacy has been challenged and broadened, to include a wide range
of complex and multi-dimensional processes and skills (Bonci et al.,
2011).
Researchers do not readily agree on the definition of literacy, but
there is a general consensus on the fact that the very nature of the
concept requires a definition that is dynamic, reflects the continual
changes of modern society and takes into account the developmental
and functional dimensions of literacy (Bonci et al., 2011).
Luis C. Moll, Cathy Amanti, Deborah Neff, Norma Gonzalez: Funds of
Knowledge: Using the funds of knowledge students and families have,
as a means of connecting homes and classrooms.

References
Bonci, A., Mottram, E., McCoy, E., & Cole, J. (2011). A research review: The importance of families and the
home environment [Pdf]. London: National Literacy Trust.
Henderson, A., & Mapp, K. (2002). A new wave of evidence: The impact of school, family, and community
connections on student achievement. Retrieved from www.sedl.org/connections/resources/evidence.pdf