Examining African American/Black Parents’ Experiences and Family-School Relationships in a Suburban District

This study examines the family-school relationships and educational engagement of black parents residing in a Wisconsin suburb that has experienced a significant growth in its black population over the last decade. The research investigates the factors that led black parents to reside in the suburb, and their experiences as residents and public school parents. By explicating the range of experiences and perspectives of black parents in a predominantly-white area impacted by demographic change, the project will provide teachers and administrators in the district and in other mid-size cities with key insights about the opportunities and barriers black parents may face in their efforts to support their children’s education.