Focus group assessment of overcoming barriers to Latino family involvement in children's education.

摘要

The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify barriers to Latino family involvement and establish strategies to increase the involvement of Hispanic families in their children's educational processes. The participants, recruited with the help of a local Texas school district, were 37 Latinos whose primary language was Spanish and who had at least one child in elementary school. Themes emerged from the data, including the need for bilingual communication, desire for more integration of Latino culture into school curriculum, and overall satisfaction with the education their children are receiving. Barriers to Latino family involvement were identified as language, need for childcare, work schedules, transportation, and feelings of comfortableness at their children's school campus. Strategies for improved family involvement were suggested by the participants; these strategies included consistent and quality written communication from schools in Spanish, encouraging Latino community meetings to discuss educational topics, increased parent education opportunities, increased school-sponsored family events, providing childcare on campuses, and integration of Latino cultures in their children's educational curriculum. Implications for educators include professional development for all staff members regarding strategies for teaching Latino children and working with their parents, increasing the number of highly qualified bilingual personnel on each school campus, insuring families receive quality written information from school in Spanish, and providing multiples opportunities to involve Latino families in their children's education from volunteering at the school to becoming part of campus and district decision-making committees.