This problem-based learning project delves into the perceptions of school leaders regarding the challenges and strategies involved in fostering equitable family engagement within the school setting. Acknowledging the historical inequities in engagement practices, particularly affecting marginalized groups, the research team aimed to address the…

This problem-based learning project delves into the perceptions of school leaders regarding the challenges and strategies involved in fostering equitable family engagement within the school setting. Acknowledging the historical inequities in engagement practices, particularly affecting marginalized groups, the research team aimed to address the…

This problem-based learning project delves into the perceptions of school leaders regarding the challenges and strategies involved in fostering equitable family engagement within the school setting. Acknowledging the historical inequities in engagement practices, particularly affecting marginalized groups, the research team aimed to address the…

The American family is changing (Brown, 2017; Pew Research Center, 2015; Seltzer, 2019). While grandfamily formations are becoming more common throughout the United States, they are particularly prevalent in specific counties of north-central Pennsylvania. Data obtained from the American Community Surveys between 2012 and 2021 suggest that…

All children in the United States have a right to effective education. While an optimal learning environment is important for all students, children with disabilities are particularly vulnerable to barriers to accessing high-quality learning environments. Many parents of children receiving special education services want to be strong advocates for…

The benefits of high-quality family-school partnerships are numerous in terms of academic, behavioral, and social-emotional student outcomes. Therefore, discovering paths to improving the relationship is essential. Finding ways to strengthen the family-school partnership is particularly critical for families with students in special education.…

The transition to five-year-old kindergarten is a pivotal time in children's development, setting the tone for the children's and their families' subsequent formal education experiences. Establishing connections between home and school is a key to creating a supportive learning environment for every child. This dissertation examines how home…

Since the Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting is so important both to a student's progress and educational growth as well as the school's legal obligations, it is imperative that researchers work to understand parent perceptions of Individualized Education Program meetings (Fish, 2006). Family participation and advocacy are also…

The contexts of fatherhood in the 21[superscript st] -century are leading to meaningful changes in responsibilities for fathers. These changes are welcomed by many and benefit the family unit in many ways. However, nontraditional doctoral student fathers pursuing a doctorate and maintaining full-time employment face numerous challenges as they…

While research has been conducted on the importance of creating safe environments where LGBTQ+ students feel seen and respected (Hermann-Wilmarth & Ryan, 2019), little research has been completed on these spaces' impact on LGBTQ+-headed families. Understanding the impact belonging has on a sense of mattering (Strayhorn, 2019), it is essential…

Kindergarten through 12th grade school administrators and educators are tasked with the challenge of ensuring every student is consistently attending school. Balfanz and Byrnes (2012) and Henderson et al. (2014) stated that either students cannot attend school because of multiple factors, students will not attend, or students do not attend because…

This qualitative, phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of parents with children in public schools in Northern Colorado, addressing a gap in the understanding of parent-school partnerships within the educational context. The problem was parents must navigate complex public school systems in Northern Colorado. This issue underscored…

Education researchers and the US Department of Education interpret chronic absentee data as supporting a causal relationship between absenteeism and negative outcomes later in life (Frydenlund, 2022; Berkowitz et al., 2017; Hopson & Lee, 2011; Thapa et al., 2013). As school absence rates continue to reflect disparities among students of color…

The purpose of this qualitative, descriptive study is to understand how elementary and secondary school site administrators describe the influence of digital technology as a tool to distribute knowledge and encourage family-school communication in one school district in the Southwest United States. Epstein's (2007) theory of overlapping spheres of…

A Dissertation in Practice was conducted which connected theories of action and Yosso's (2015) community cultural wealth framework to address the absence of diverse parental perspectives and oversight at Freedom Middle School in South Texas. Platicas with seven parent volunteers and a parent engagement survey available to all Freedom Middle School…