Home-School Partnerships through the Eyes of Parents / Cynthia Hudley and Rhoda Barnes.

This paper presents findings of a study that examined African-American parents' beliefs about their relationships with their children's schools. Telephone interviews were conducted with 147 parents of African-American children residing within the boundaries of a unified school district in a resort community in southern California. The study sought to understand how these parents perceived their roles as partners, how satisfied they were with both their own and the schools' efforts to build partnerships, and how they believed their efforts related to their children's school achievement and adjustment. Two major themes emerged from the data: (1) the need for improved home-school communication; and (2) the need for cultural awareness and sensitivity at the school site. The data suggest support for the multicultural model of parent involvement, which assumes that students learn best when the classroom curriculum reflects the history and culture of the students. Findings also reflect the germ of the full partnership model, which argues that schools must radically restructure the roles and relationships of all adults involved in the schooling of children. Contains 14 references. (LMI)

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