Minority Parents as School Governors in Chicago and Britain: Empowerment or not?

Citation

Blackledge A (1995) Minority Parents as School Governors in Chicago and Britain: Empowerment or not?. Educational Review, 47 (3), pp. 309-317. https://doi.org/10.1080/0013191950470307

Abstract
Recent legislation in Britain and Chicago has devolved management of schools from local government control to individual school level. The 1988 Education Reform Act in Britain and the 1988 Chicago School Reform Act put power in the hands of parents in the running of schools. This paper asks whether the legislation has really handed over power to minority parents in the management of schools in multiracial areas. After a brief review of available evidence from the literature, the second half of the paper provides an account of a recent visit to Chicago schools, where I interviewed parents, school principals and education officers about how the legislation has affected parent empowerment and school effectiveness. I conclude with implications for the local management of schools in minority communities in Britain.

Journal
Educational Review: Volume 47, Issue 3