The role of parents in improving the school:A case study in the Sivas city center

The subject of this research is to find out about the role of parents in improving the school systems of three primary schools in the Sivas city centre. The objectives of the research are finding out about the principals?, teachers? and parents? perceptions concerning improving the school, putting forth the studies carried out by the parents so as to improve these schools, and learning about the opinions of managers, teachers and parents to ensure parent participation in improving the schools more effectively. This study was designed as a mixed type research. In this research, a case study which is widely used in social and educational sciences has been used. Three primary schools were determined in the Sivas city center as the subject of the study. These three schools are two state schools one with high SES (coded as ÜSED), the other with low SES (coded as ASED), and a primary school (coded as ÖZEL). The data in the research were collected using qualitative and quantitative methods and the data obtained through interviews were co-evaluated with the data obtained through the questionnaire forms. Moreover, the obtained data was backed up by the researcher?s observations. Using data variation, the researcher therefore attempted to reach realistic and reliable conclusions. Document analysis was also done as much as possible. Among the documents that were analyzed were school improvement plans, strategic plans, booklets and brochures, meeting records, and statistical information about exam results and achievement status. To achieve the objectives of the research, a total of 30 participants consisting of two principals, three teachers and five parents from each school were interviewed. Moreover, the parents of students from the 1st to 5th grades in each school were given a questionnaire form prepared by the researcher. The questionnaires were handed out to the parents by the students and were returned in the same way. The quantitative data of the research were analyzed using the descriptive analysis method. With this purpose, the questionnaires were enumerated after being examined one by one. Then, the data in these questionnaires were transferred to a computer and analyzed using the SPSS 17 program. The obtained findings are presented on the tables in the form of percentages and frequency values. The qualitative data of the research were analyzed and commented on through descriptive and content analysis methods. The interview texts were transferred to computer originally as ?word? files and were made ready for definitions and coding for the NVivo 8 program. Finally, frequency tables were formed from these coding. This research suggests that some teachers and principals express the concept of school improvement as carrying out planned studies by analyzing the situations within schools. Most of the participants perceive school improvement as the betterment in the physical structure of the school. Others emphasized the significance of communication and interaction between the fellows in improving the school. It was seen that the parents did not have adequate knowledge how to improve the schools and participate in education. It is understood that in all three schools what is done by the parents most is attending the meetings. In addition to this, within the context of studies to improve the school, some differences were observed in terms of parent participation to improve the school. It was seen that parent participation in the state school with high SES was higher than that of other schools. Communication and interaction between the fellows were also understood to be higher in this school than in others. As for the private school, it was seen that the parents expect the most out of the teachers and the school, and they usually attend the social activities organized by the school. Teachers and parents think that informative and initiative studies such as meetings and seminars should be organized for parents so as to increase their participation in improving the school. Some participants are of the opinion that expert opinion should consulted about school improvement. The majority of parents want their opinions and suggestions paid attention to about determining the timing of studies concerning themselves. Concerning the time of activities involving family participation, it was understood that the parents in all three schools preferred day time at the weekend. It was understood that a great majority of parents want to be involved in the activities at school and this participation will make them happy. The parents counted the studies and the work that they could do themselves at school as helping to organize social and sports activities, keeping in touch with the school, providing financial support, and helping to improve physical facilities. Several suggestions have been developed in parallel with the results gained from the research. Key Words: Improving school, effective school, family participation, parent support for education, family-school relations.