First SLLIS research project

It’s been an exciting few weeks! Approval for the first SLLIS research project – about parent involvement in education – has been received. Moreover, the date for Missouri charter authorization rapidly approaches. At that time, the real work of enrolling and engaging parents will begin in full force. That’s not to say SLLIS hasn’t been hitting the streets – and the events and the day cares and the preschools – for over 2 years now. Most recently, the team has spoken with organizations ranging from the Child Development Center at UMSL to the Refugee and Immigrant Consortium of St. Louis. The goal is to make sure that all city families and care-givers from all socio-economic, language, ethnic, etc., backgrounds have the information that they need to make the best decision for their children’s education. SLLIS wants to make sure that all parents know about this opportunity to learn in another language and through the IB Primary Years Programme.  And what a time to think about engaging parents and reaching out, on this very day that our new President Barack Obama has made so clear that the way to change is to work hard serving others, and not “underestimate the power for people to pull together and to accomplish amazing things”.

The First SLLIS Research Project

The objective of this first research project connected to SLLIS is to analyze the recruitment and engagement of families preceding and during the opening year (2009-2010) of the French and Spanish schools. Using observation and interview research methods, this project will address two questions: How is the SLLIS parent involvement policy designed? And what types of engagement does it encourage for diverse families? The results should help develop theory regarding parent involvement in education, as well as provide direct feedback to St. Louis area schools about how to best engage families.

Lisa Dorner