The Relationship between Parent Volunteering in School and School Safety in Disadvantaged Urban Neighborhoods. (2nd July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hamlin, Daniel; Li, Angran
• Is Part Of: Journal of school violence. Volume 19:Number 3(2020)
• Page Start: 362
• Page End: 376
• Publication Date: 2020-07-02
• Subjects: Parent volunteering -- school safety -- school survey on crime and safety; School violence -- Prevention -- Periodicals; School environment -- Periodicals; 371.78205
• DOI: 10.1080/15388220.2019.1700801
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1538-8220

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Schools located in disadvantaged urban neighborhoods report disproportionately high rates of crime and violence. Theoretical reasoning suggests that school-based parent participation may lead to improved school safety in these settings, but little empirical work has tested this relationship. This study examines the relationship between school-based parent volunteering and two measures of school safety by using data from five waves of the School Survey on Crime and Safety, Common Core Data, and the American Community Survey. Results from analyses of 12, 698 schools indicated that school-based parent volunteering is associated with improved school safety, controlling for school organizational features, sociodemographic characteristics, and neighborhood-level crime. For schools in disadvantaged urban neighborhoods, this relationship persisted with parent volunteering being associated with less school crime and violence and student bodily harm. Findings establish a need for future research to determine whether parent volunteering may be a tool for enhancing school safety.