Effects of parental home-based and school-based involvement on child's grades : comparing Asian and Hispanic parents

Parental involvement takes an important role in child's education and parental involvement in a child's education generally benefits child's learning and school success. Parents' motivation and knowledge affect parent's decision to become involved in their child's education. In addition, cultural background is one of important factor that influences parental involvement. The number of immigrant students in the United States is increasing however, only a few studies have examined the immigrant parents' involvement in their child's education. The present study examined the effects of parental home-based and school-based involvement on child's grades, especially for Asian parents and Hispanic parents by examining whether parents' behaviors of checking for child's homework completion, helping with child's homework, and participating in school activities affect students' academic achievement. The results showed that checking for homework completion had a positive association with parental school-based involvement for Asian parents, and helping with homework had a positive association with parental school-based involvement for Hispanic parents. Parental school-based involvement had a positive effect on child's grade for Hispanic parents. However, there was no mediation effect of school-based involvement between parental home-based involvement and child's grade.Dr. Stephen Whitney, Thesis Supervisor.Includes bibliographical references (pages 40-43)