A Seasonal Comparison of the Effectiveness of Parent Engagement on Student Literacy Achievement

Authors

  • Cathlene Hillier Nipissing University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53967/cje-rce.v44i2.4551

Abstract

Parent engagement is often promoted as a remedy for reducing achievement gaps between students from high socio-economic and low socio-economic backgrounds. However, researchers have found mixed results when examining parent engagement and student outcomes. Drawing on a study investigating the effectiveness of summer literacy camps offered by schools in Ontario, I compare the influence of parent engagement on two outcomes: (1) spring snapshot of cumulative learning, and (2) summer literacy growth/loss. In considering summer learning in regression analysis, I aim to investigate the effect of parent engagement without the influence of schools during the academic year. Out of 14 parent engagement measures, I find only three (parents’ aspirations, home resources, discussions of school with children) are positive predictors of spring literacy outcomes and that none predict summer literacy growth/loss. Family socio-economic status remains a powerful predictor of achievement for both outcomes. I interpret my findings within three proposed mechanisms of parent engagement: cultivation ethic, realist reaction, and expressive logic.


Keywords: parent engagement, literacy achievement, socio-economic status, inequality, summer learning, summer literacy camp(s)

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Published

2021-06-30

How to Cite

Cathlene Hillier. (2021). A Seasonal Comparison of the Effectiveness of Parent Engagement on Student Literacy Achievement. Canadian Journal of Education/Revue Canadienne De l’éducation, 44(2), 496–529. https://doi.org/10.53967/cje-rce.v44i2.4551