Family-School Links

Based on the presentations and discussions from a national symposium on family-school links held at the Pennsylvania State University, this volume brings together psychologists, sociologists, educators, and policymakers studying the bidirectional effects between schools and families. This topic -- the links between families and schools, and how these affect children's educational achievement -- encompasses a host of questions, each of key social and educational significance. * How far does parental involvement in schools affect children's experiences and achievement at school? * What explains the great differences between schools, families, and communities in the extent of such involvement? * Are these differences a matter of school practices, or do they reflect much broader social and cultural divisions? * What is the nature of the impact schools have on children and their families? * How can family-school-partnerships be fostered in a way that helps children? The chapter authors consider these questions and related issues, present different perspectives, highlight various aspects of the issues, and suggest widely differing answers. This volume's goal is to provide the reader with current information on what is known about family-school-community links, and to provoke new ways of thinking about these links and their implications for children's education and well-being.

Alan Booth, Judith F. Dunn

Contents: Preface. Part I: Families and Schools: How Can They Work Together to Promote Children's School Success?J.S. Eccles, R.D. Harold, Family Involvement in Children's and Adolescents' Schooling. S.M. Dornbusch, K.L. Glasgow, The Structural Context of Family-School Relations. N.M. Haynes, M. Ben-Avie, Parents as Full Partners in Education. A. Lareau, Assessing Parent Involvement in Schooling: A Critical Analysis. Part II: How Do School Processes Affect Children and Their Families?K.L. Alexander, D.R. Entwisle, Schools and Children at Risk. T.D. Cook, Inequality in Educational Achievement: Families are the Source, But are Schools a Prophylactic? A. Gamoran, Effects of Schooling on Children and Families. C. Goldenberg, Schools, Children at Risk, and Successful Interventions. D.R. Entwisle, K.L. Alexander, Further Comments on Seasonal Learning. Part III: How is Changing Family Structure Affecting School Outcomes?N. Zill, Family Change and Student Achievement: What We Have Learned, What It Means for Schools. R.D. Mare, Changes in Families and Trends in Schooling. E.G. Menaghan, Family Composition, Family Interaction, and Children's Academic and Behavior Problems: Interpreting the Data. D. Scott-Jones, Toward a Balanced View of Family Change. Part IV: Building Research and Policy Agendas: New Directions.J.L. Epstein, Perspectives and Previews on Research and Policy for School, Family, and Community Partnerships. O.C. Moles, New National Directions in Research and Policy. G.M. Lloyd, Research and Practical Applications for School, Family, and Community Partnerships. D.T. Lichter, Family Diversity, Intellectual Inequality, and Academic Achievement Among American Children. K.L. Bierman, Family-School Links: An Overview.