Base Parental Advocacy in Equity for Best Results

Parental advocacy must be rooted in equity. Families often negotiate systems not designed with them in mind. When parents negotiate these systems with difficulty, it makes it hard for them to feel part of the education system. When parents do not feel part of the system, it is hard for them to make their children feel part of the system. When parents and their children do not feel they are part of the educational system, students have less success on their academic journeys. The stakes in this area are high because when parental advocacy is inequitable their children’s opportunities are lessened. This leads to those children having lower satisfaction in adult life. This article will discuss barriers, solutions, and equity-driven practices.

Understanding Equity in Parental Advocacy

When it comes to understanding equity in parental advocacy, it is important to understand that equity means ensuring that every family receives the support they need. Individualized support, not equal support is the key to equity. Advocacy services are not equally accessible to all parents due to a variety of disparities including:

Language barriers
Cultural mismatch
Time and resource constraints
Systemic bias and gate keeping

Language barriers are experienced by a variety of parents including parents who speak languages other than English, parents who have literacy challenges, and parents who may not have access to email technology. Advocacy efforts are also impacted by cultural mismatches between parents, teachers, and school personnel. When teachers and school personnel do not understand the cultural nuances in the way parents think and live their lives, they are not able to fully understand how those parents think and what is important to them. Parental advocacy efforts are impacted by systemic bias and gate keeping. Sometimes, teachers and school personnel have biases that make them see the world one way. They tend to think that way is the only correct way to think and behave. Therefore, they discount different views held by parents. A final issue is that teachers and school staff often serve as gate keepers that prevent parent views from being heard by decision makers in the school.

It is important to point out that there is a difference between advocacy and equitable advocacy. Advocacy helps families navigate school systems in order to get better outcomes for their children. Equitable advocacy removes barriers to parental advocacy before parents encounter them. Equitable advocacy is proactive rather than reactive in nature.

Barriers Parents Face When Seeking Advocacy Support

Parents face at least four barriers for seeking advocacy support. It is important for us to take time to explore each of these barriers so that we can next discuss how to overcome those barriers. The barriers parents face when seeking advocacy support include:

structural barriers
social and cultural barriers
economic and time barriers
emotional barriers

Structural Barriers

Structural barriers consist of complicated processes, limited access to information, as well as inconsistent communication from schools.

Social and Cultural and Social Barriers

Social and cultural barriers include the feelings of families being dismissed or unheard. It also includes cultural norms around authority which tend to favor the desires and opinions of teachers and school employees over those of parents. Social and cultural barriers also result in a lack of representation of diverse and historically marginalized parents having seats as staff members and in leadership roles in schools.

Economic and Time Barriers

Economic and time barriers include parent work schedules which often prohibit them from attending school conferences and events. A lack of affordable and reliable transportation may be a barrier to parents getting to school to advocate for their children. Lack of childcare provides yet another barrier. Lack of digital access in the form of computer and affordable internet services is yet another barrier to parental advocacy efforts.

Emotional Barriers

Parents who want to advocate for their children often have emotional barriers to overcome. One of those barriers is fear of retaliation. Parents may be afraid that if they try to advocate for their children, teachers or school staff may punish their children. Sometimes the parental feelings of emotional barriers are based upon past negative experiences. A final emotional barrier is that parental advocacy efforts may be hindered by parents’ feelings of overwhelm or isolation.

What Equitable Parental Advocacy Looks Like in Practices

Equitable advocacy services are supports, tools, and actions designed to help individuals and communities, particularly historically marginalized communities navigate systems and access resources in ways that center lived experiences, fairness, and structural change. There are four things that are part of equitable advocacy services. There four things are:

accessible information and communication
culturally responsive advocacy support
flexible, family-centered service models
trauma informed and strength-based approaches

Accessible Information and Communication

When communication materials for parents are accessible the materials are prepared in plain language. The materials will also be available in multiple languages. Accessible communication would also be given through multiple communication channels.

Culturally Responsive Advocacy Support

In order for advocacy supports to be culturally responsive, advocates must understand the cultures of the families in their schools. This is only possible when the cultural norms and values of student’s parents are respected. Representation matters. Teachers and school staff should make sure that historically marginalized groups have their cultural norms represented clearly and openly in meetings, curriculum decisions, and classroom learning materials.

Flexible, Family-Centered Service Models

Equitable advocacy services respect family obligations and realities. This is shown by having evening and weekend hours. Virtual attendance options will make it possible for more families to attend meetings and participate in school programs. Additionally, it may be helpful to offer on-site support at community hubs that are accessible by parents and families.

Trauma-Informed and Strength-Based Approaches

A final part of equitable advocacy services is trauma-informed and strength-based approaches. This work should be sure to recognize stressors families carry with them. Dignity, respect, and partnership should be centered at all times.

Role of Schools & Districts in Ensuring Parental Advocacy

Schools and school districts have a role to play in ensuring equitable advocacy. One of the first things schools and school districts should do is enact policies that support family voice. They could do this by being clear about school processes and parents’ rights concerning those processes. Transparent decision-making which parents have a part in supporting family voice in equitable advocacy work. Family-friendly documentation is another way to support equitable advocacy.

Teachers and staff have roles to play in ensuring equitable advocacy. In order for them to play that role, they need to be trained in how to make their communication culturally responsive. Teachers and staff must be trained in bias awareness. They must learn about implicit and explicit biases and how to fight against those biases having a place in their work. Finally, teachers and school staff must be trained in active listening and partnership skills.

Schools and school districts who want to help parents in their advocacy work will help build parent leadership pipelines. This means creating parent advisory councils. Leadership training is good for schools and school staff as well as parents. Parents should also be given opportunities to co-design curriculum, classroom resources, and school programs. Parents should also have a part in decision making in the schools.

The Role of Community Organizations and Advocacy Groups

Community organizations and advocacy groups have a role to play in helping parents in their advocacy equity work. These groups can bridge the gap between families and schools. They can do this because often they are trusted messengers who enjoy community-based support. This means they are trusted by parents and often recognized and respected by schools. Community organizations and advocacy groups are able to provide independent advocacy services. They do this by acting as navigators helping guide parents on how to best use their advocacy resources. Community organizations and advocacy groups are also able to serve as parent mentors. Finally, community organizations and advocacy groups can help create networks of support via peer-to-peer groups, workshops, and resource hubs.

Practical Steps Parents Can Take to Advocate for Their Children

There are several steps parents can take when they work as advocates for their children. It is important for parents to know their rights because that makes it possible for them to advocate confidently. When parents know their rights, it prevents schools from overlooking required supports. Informed parents are harder to dismiss and more likely to achieve equitable outcomes for their children. Parents should be sure to document everything. Written records create a clear timeline that can protect families if details are forgotten, disputed, or misrepresented. Appropriate documentation can convert conversations into evidence which strengthens parental advocacy efforts.

Parents are encouraged to use community resources like advocates and parent networks which can offer guidance, tools and language that strengthen parental advocacy efforts. Further, whenever possible, parents should be accompanied by a support person. This helps provide emotional support. Additionally, a support person may capture details missed by parents. By bringing a support person, a parent can signal to the school that the parent is organized and taking the process seriously.

It is a good idea to request meetings in writing because written requests create a formal record and trigger required timelines. Written meeting requests can help reduce delays and ensure concerns are addressed promptly. Parents should take care to ask clarifying questions. It is important to ensure that parents fully understand processes, decisions, and next steps.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is important to reaffirm that equitable advocacy is an essential part of student success. Families deserve educational systems that are designed with them and not around them. This article serves as a call to action for schools, districts, and communities to commit to equity in advocacy services.