Abstract:
The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study is to understand
individual parental experiences related to parental engagement in and out of school. This
study seeks to understand how parents in one district in Indiana define parent
involvement and engagement, the meaning they make of these activities, the schoolimposed
barriers to engagement they encounter, and the actions they take to remain
engaged in their children’s education.
To date, few studies experience parent perceptions of parent involvement and
family engagement. This qualitative study used in-depth semi-structured interview to
explore these ideas. Participants included 3 parents, over the age of 18, each with at least
one child aged 5-18. Participants’ children were all enrolled in what became to be termed
a beyond school environment, in this case Future Problem Solvers International (FPSI), a
problem-solving club that proved to meet their needs for authentic engagement not
available within the school environment.
