ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a discussion of how parent, family, and community involvement are defined. It describes a historical account of how parent involvement literature developed over the decades. It provides an overview of three major paradigms used in studies that emerged from our review of literature. The chapter discusses what people know about the topic from the extant literature. The traditional definition of parental involvement includes activities in the school and at home. Engagement in schooling has been complicated and difficult for culturally and linguistically diverse students because of historical, institutional, and cultural factors. When beginning teachers come into minority communities, many are unable to understand the students’ home language, social interaction patterns, histories, and cultures. Schools that wish to effectively engage parents, families, and communities must position themselves as learners and be willing and open to learning from urban families and communities.
