Parent involvement and achievement of fourth-grade students
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine if a relationship exists between four types of parent involvement and achievement of fourth grade students in a suburban community in central Indiana. Data were collected from all fourth grade students in Mooresville Consolidated Schools. There were, at the time of the distribution of the questionnaire, 262 total students enrolled in the fourth grade. The univariate procedure was used to summarize the data; analysis of variance and a multiple comparison method was used to run of each type involvement with each measure of achievement to test hypotheses concerned with each measure of involvement. Types of involvement used were personalistic, supportive, policy-oriented and M-PACT activities. M-PACT activities were those specific programs designed by a committee made up of parents, teachers, administrators and community leaders to enhance parent involvement. The achievement measurements were grade point average (GPA), Indiana Statewide Test of Educational Progress (ISTEP), and attendance. Four operational hypotheses were tested in this study. Each of the types of involvement were contrasted to each measure of achievement to test whether there was a relationship. In each of the four types of parent involvement a positive relationship was found between involvement and GPA. Only the M-PACT activities showed a positive relationship between all measures of student achievement and M-PACT parent involvement. There was, however, sufficient evidence in each type of parent involvement, except personalistic, to conclude that high parent involvement and high achievement in GPA, ISTEP, and attendance do co-exist. There was sufficient evidence gathered to imply that school administrators, teachers, and parents should develop and implement a quality parent involvement program if higher student achievement, as defined in this study by GPA, ISTEP and attendance, is a priority.
Degree
Ph.D.
Advisors
Kline, Purdue University.
Subject Area
School administration|Elementary education
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