Exploring the Role of Family-School Partnerships in School Choice

Abstract

Parental access to useful information about schools continues to be a structural barrier that limits the equity potential of school choice programs. While “information interventions” or simplified and readable knowledge resources show promise for counteracting information disparities between families, this line of research has provided limited insight on the particular preferences and needs of parents or the value of person-to-person interpretive assistance in school decisions. This exploratory study uses qualitative methods to investigate parent-school collaboration for the purpose of school selection in Washington, D.C. Drawing on a social capital framework, this study analyzes information transactions from parents’ perspectives to clarify ways in which school personnel currently function as liaisons of choice. Findings from this study indicate future opportunities for districts to improve the outcome of school choice through better training of school and district personnel.