Parental Contact

School Administrator, Sept, 1996

A newly released study by the U.S. Department of Education examined the nature of contact between parents and school personnel.

The findings, based on a 1992 survey of parents who had children in 12th grade, include these:

* Parents were more likely to be contacted about their child's academic performance than their behavior;

* Parents of children in non-public school were much more likely to be called about volunteer services or to discuss post-high school plans, while parents of children in public school were more likely to be contacted about attendance;

* Parents of white seniors were more likely than those of black, Hispanic, or Asian seniors to be asked to volunteer at school. Black parents were more likely than white or Hispanic parents to be contacted about helping their child with school work.