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New EdSource Survey: Parent Engagement in California
A new EdSource statewide survey of more than 1,000 Californians with children in public schools provides the first detailed look at how connected and involved parents are with their children’s schools.
It comes at a time when the state Legislature has given parents a greater role in providing input on how education funds are spent through California’s new Local Control Funding Formula now being implemented in schools across the state.
The survey revealed that while parents knew little about the new school funding law, they were overwhelmingly willing to participate in decisions about school budgets — if they feel they would be heard. The survey also found distinct differences among high-income and low-income parents when it comes to evaluation of schools and levels of engagement.
In addition to providing an important baseline for parent engagement in California, we hope this information can help educators and other stakeholders better understand the obstacles to parent participation and improve their outreach as the state implements its new funding system.
In responding to the survey, California State PTA President Colleen You said that the finding that 57 percent of parents are not yet aware of the Local Control Funding Formula is a call to action. “Clearly, this finding means we have our work cut out for us in the upcoming months as we all to try to achieve widespread awareness about the new LCFF and the opportunities and necessity for parents to be engaged,” she said.
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