Abstract
Conversations around the achievement gap are often centered on what parents and students can do to close it. Overall school leaders have not made the achievement of Black students a priority, but it continues to be a priority for Black parents. Despite the vast research on parental involvement, little is known about the specific contributions of Black families to student learning. This study surveyed 130 parents/guardians of Black K-12 students throughout the United States to identify the strategies and resources they use in engaging with their children's education. The families exhibited high rates of supporting learning at home, communicating with schools, and providing educational experiences in the community. Participants reported using two types of resources: programs and organizations geared specifically to Black students and their parents and social interactions through friends, parents, and the Internet. School personnel may improve communication and collaboration with Black parents by revisiting policy and restructuring engagement programs to incorporate this information.