MEXICAN-AMERICAN AND ANGLO-AMERICAN PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT WITH A PUBLIC ELEMENTARY-SCHOOL - AN EXPLORATORY-STUDY

Parents of children attending a K-3 elementary school in New Mexico were surveyed in order to examine Mexican-American and Anglo-American parental involvement in the school. Two hundred and eight parents were contacted. Those parents who did not return the first questionnaire were provided with a second questionnaire. Twenty-four Anglo-Americans, 19 Mexican-Americans, 1 African-American, and 6 individuals who did not identify their ethnic affiliation completed the questionnaire. The most frequent type of involvement in the school, as reported by both Anglo-American and Mexican-American respondents, was conferring with teachers. Interest in their child's success motivated both groups most frequently. Implications of parental responses are discussed.