Bridging the Gap: Enhancing Parental Involvement Among ELL Families in Diverse School Districts

Abstract

English language learning (ELL) families within the public school at William Floyd School District, need to overcome many barriers on a daily basis. These families also experience a limitation of their parental involvement. Parental involvement has limitations because of families experiencing language barriers, educational barriers, lack of understanding of the education system as well as lack of teacher preparedness within the district. The literature being discussed throughout this study examines the limitations that ELL families need to overcome in order to have a voice in their child's education. It also addresses the problems that educators and staff of the district to improve upon in order to increase parental involvement within the school. The school district will address these problems as well as different ways to improve upon them add a professional development before the start of the new school year. The goal of this professional development is for teachers and staff members to understand the barriers their El families are experiencing and provide them with strategies and tools needed to guide their parents through the school system.