Trust and the family-school relationship examination of parent-teacher differences in elementary and secondary grades

Trust between parents and teachers is a vital element in building and maint aining the family-school relationship. Parents (n = 1,234) and teachers (n = 209) from a first-ring suburban school district were surveyed about issue s of trust in the family school relationship. Results indicated higher leve ls of parent trust and teacher trust at the elementary level than at middle or high school levels. Additionally, differences in trust levels between t eachers and parents at elementary and high school levels were found, with p arent trust being significantly higher. Improving home school communication was identified as a primary way to enhance trust. Also, the perceived qual ity of family-school interaction was a better predictor of trust than was t he frequency of contact or demographic variables. Trust was positively corr elated with three indicators of school performance. Implications for school personnel to make more systematic efforts toward building trust between pa rents and teachers throughout a child's academic career are discussed. (C) 2000 Society for the Study of School Psychology. Published by Elsevier Scie nce Ltd.