Somali Family Priorities And Perspectives Regarding Middle School Engagement
Abstract
The purpose of this research was to investigate Somali families’ priorities and perspectives regarding middle school engagement. A survey was used which asked parents to rate the importance of different school engagement efforts, both at home and at school. Parents were then asked to answer open-ended questions regarding school engagement. Findings suggest that Somali parents prioritize those events and activities that directly benefit the child’s academics, more so than events and activities related to school-wide information and involvement. Furthermore, parents asked for better communication, more resources, and more equitable practices from educators. They also saw the importance of the education that school offered and sought to reinforce that at home. Recommendations are then given based on these findings, so that educators and parents can build more meaningful partnerships, with the goal of enhancing students academic achievement.