ABSTRACT
Meaningful family engagement is a powerful predictor of high student achievement. Students whose families are engaged in their education typically receive higher grades, exhibit more positive attitudes and behaviors, and have higher graduation rates. Father engagement leads to a variety of positive outcomes for children. In the early years, father engagement is associated with promoting children’s social and language development. Father engagement is linked to positive child characteristics like empathy, self-esteem, self-control, social competence, and well-being. Historically, discrimination and the ramifications of slavery played a major role in disabling African American fathers’ ability to parent and provide for their family. Father engagement and parenting behaviors among African American and Latino fathers are influenced by specific historical and societal developments that present different challenges that White fathers typically do not experience. When supporting father engagement, teachers should consider the father’s cultural background and beliefs and look past any labels society has given minority fathers.
