After reading this chapter, you should be able to

1. Analyze public perspectives about the quality of schools and teachers.

2. Respect the diversity of students’ families and describe the importance of not stereotyping students based on their family structure and size.

3. Assess the impact of family culture on the learning and teaching process.

4. Describe the influence of religious beliefs and native language on curriculum and instruction in schools.

5. Evaluate the school choices available to families in many communities.

6. Identify strategies for effectively working with families and the community to support student learning.