Parental Involvement Practices in Formalized Home–School Cooperation

The topic for this article is parents' participation and willingness to participate in formalized home–school cooperation. The analyses are based on a nationwide survey among parents in lower secondary schools in Norway. A main finding is that parental involvement practices differ according to parents' level of education in the sense that parents with more formal education are more active than less educated parents. Also, the results indicate that parents with low formal education are insecure about their knowledge regarding academic matters, and that this works as a barrier for their participation in formalized home–school cooperation. Keywords: parental involvementhome–school cooperation Notes 1According to the Education Act, schools in Norway are instructed to carry out at least two prepared conferences between teacher, pupil and parent each school year. Parent meetings are not directed by law or national curricula, but most schools arrange parent meetings twice a year. The Education Act also states that there shall be a parent council on each school. All parents are members of the parent council. The parent council elects a Parents' Working Committee, which then elects two representatives for the school's board of management.