The Importance of Home-School Communication as a Tool for Engaging Latino Parents

Abstract

 This article discusses a study that examined multiple types of parent involvement with a sample of Latino immigrant parents whose children were enrolled in Head Start. Findings suggest that cultural factors, parental efficacy, and parents’ ability to communicate with the school impacted parent involvement. The results suggest that Head Start programs can promote parent involvement among Latino immigrant populations by incorporating cultural values and offering services, such as ESL classes, to increase interest and facilitate communication. The importance of helping parents overcome language barriers and providing specific information about the types of involvement at home and school to parents is also discussed.