Racial Differences in Parent Involvement in K-12 School Activities

A new study from the U.S. Department of Education looks at the involvement of parents and family members in the education of students in K-12 education.

Among the data included in the study are:

  • Nearly half of all parents of White students volunteered for some activity at their children’s schools compared to 35 percent of parents of Black students.
  • Nearly two thirds of parents of White students participated in school fundraising activities. Less than half of Black parents did so.
  • Some 85 percent of parents of White students reported that they attended a school or class event compared to 76 percent of parents of Black students.
  • Parents of White students on average attended 7.8 activities at their child’s school. Parents of Black students attended an average of 5.3 events.
  • Schools emailed parents of Black and White students about activities, events, or problems at a consistent level. But schools were significantly more likely to call parents of Black students than was the case for White students.

The full study, Parent and Family Involvement in Education: 2019, may be downloaded by clicking here.

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2 COMMENTS

  1. I understand your inclination to highlight racial differences that are present in the report because of the racial focus of your publication. But without factoring in the other socio-economic data which are also present in the report, your summary is meaningless, and could be used, by those of ill intent, to justify arguments that have no real bases in fact.

    • The summary offered is far from meaningless. The whole subject of black parenting skills deserves more attention.

      There are studies showing that certain parenting styles commonly found in White households may help children perform better in the classroom. Some of the children observed in these studies are black adopted children.

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