Delving into the often unexplored areas of class, race, and power struggles, The Power of Parents poses a unique and original critical examination of the relationship between bicultural parents and the school system. Written with students and practitioners in mind, it challenges past research that has traditionally argued bicultural parents are incompetent, apathetic, and do not value education, hence the cause of their children's academic underachievement. This book sheds new light on why bicultural parents often mistrust the school system and uncovers the contradictions inherent in the relationship between them and school personnel.

This book examines how commonly applied approaches to parent involvement in schools do not easily transfer to bilingual and bicultural families. The authors--respected scholars in the field of educational equity--challenge commonly accepted boundaries of bicultural parent involvement. They provide real-life examples, practical strategies, discussion questions, and suggestions for ensuring that schools welcome and value bicultural families. This timely resource is a hopeful vision of what authentic and democratic parent engagement can become, and how parents can be transformative change agents for their children and their schools.