When Parents Choose: The Influence of a School of Choice on Family Engagement and Perception of Desired Educational Outcomes

A vast amount of research addressing school choice seeks to understand how and why parents/families choose schools. However, little is understood concerning the influence of choice on family beliefs and behavior. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to understand family perspectives, through the lens of Choice Theory (Glasser, 1998), of the influence of involvement in a school of choice on family perceptions of what it means to be engaged in their child’s education and of desired educational outcomes. Findings indicate that participation in this school of choice influenced family on-campus engagement and that, even though families sought this school because of small class sizes and proximity to home, family perceptions of desired educational outcomes changed to a more academic focus as families engaged with the school and other families in the school. Choice Theory is utilized to explain these findings.