SCHOOL CHOICE, FAMILY CHARACTERISTICS, AND HOME-SCHOOL RELATIONS - CONTRIBUTORS TO SCHOOL-ACHIEVEMENT

Urban low-income 5th-graders participated in a school-choice study. Fa milies utilizing choice schools (N = 73) were more likely to be Africa n American, lower-income, and high-risk neighborhood residents than fa milies whose children attended assigned schools (N = 100). Firm-respon sive parenting, family togetherness, and family supportiveness also we re linked positively to utilization of choice. Parent involvement in c hildren's schooling was higher in neighborhood schools. School choice positively predicted children's mathematics achievement and school ori entation. Parents who chose schools rated the teachers as practicing m ore parent-involvement strategies than parents of assigned students, b ut teachers reported equal practices. Parent ratings of school quality did not differ between conditions, nor did teachers or parents report better relationships in either condition.