Educational Engagement Practices of Urban Immigrant Latina Mothers

Abstract

Although numerous studies have documented the positive association between parental involvement in children's education and a range of academic and motivational outcomes, less work has focused on the Latino immigrant population. Yet, Latino students constitute the fastest-growing ethnic group in the United States. This study examines the educational engagement practices of Latina mothers. Employing a qualitative research design, 4 focus groups with the same group of 12 Latina mothers were conducted. Analysis of the data revealed four themes including the motivation of regrets, the importance of Spanish-speaking school administrators, the need to be near, and barriers to progress.

Keywords:

• Latina mothers
• Latino students
• parental involvement
• immigrant families
• school-age immigrant children

Notes

1. For the purposes of this study, immigrant was defined as one who departs his or her country of origin voluntarily.

2. To protect the confidentiality of all participants, all names are pseudonyms.