Evaluation of a pilot parent engagement toolkit and training course for school staff and parents from socially disadvantaged schools 

Deep and persistent inequalities in the educational outcomes of children are of ongoing concern in Australia and as a result, schools are under a great deal of pressure to improve the learning outcomes of students, particularly those from socio-educationally disadvantaged backgrounds.

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Evaluation of the Beyond the Broncos Girls Academy Program

Females of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent are considered the most disadvantaged and socially marginalised group in Australia today. Beginning in the early school years, there is clear evidence of a significant educational gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australian female students.

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Parent engagement in schools

Clear, consistent evidence over the past five decades has shown that when parents are engaged in their children’s school education, the better academic, social, and emotional outcomes their children are likely to have. However, little is known about which engagement strategies and practices are the most effective, why some parents are disengaged with school, and the role that Principals can play in engaging parents in student learning through their leadership styles.

ISSR researchers have partnered with other UQ researchers, P&Cs Qld, and the Queensland Department of Education and Training (DET) to collect and analyse data on parent-school-community engagement in Queensland state schools to answer these questions.

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Parental engagement: Developing effective strategies for schools to engage the disengaged

This project will examine the prevalence of positive parental and community engagement with State schools in Queensland and develop models and strategies to improve school engagement. While previous research has shown that parental and community engagement with schools and student learning...

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