Immigrant Parents

Exploring School Climate Perspectives

What is the study about?
A research team at Harvard Graduate School of Education is conducting a study to gather insights from immigrant-origin youth and parents as well as school administrators about their perceptions of school climate. The study will explore how welcoming schools feel to immigrant students and families and their ideas for making school climate surveys more inclusive.

What are the benefits of participating?
Participants will receive a $50 gift card as a thank you for their time. Their participation will help schools better support immigrant students and families, as well as contribute to the development of more inclusive and equitable school practices.

Will my identity be protected?
Yes, participants’ identity will be fully protected throughout the study: no identifying information will ever be shared. We are committed to ensuring the privacy and security of all participants.

Is there a risk for participating in the study?
Everything you share with us stays private. To protect participants, we will be asking to only provide a first name or pseudonym. More importantly, we will never ask about documentation status Once the audio recordings are transcribed, they will be destroyed, and the transcriptions will be carefully de-identified.

We’re looking to connect with parents who:

• Started their life journey in another country
• Came to the U.S. as teens or adults
• Are raising children who are currently in middle or high school (grades 6-12)
• Feel comfortable sharing their experiences in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Mandarin, or Arabic

We make it easy to participate! You will:

• Take part in a thoughtful conversation about your school experiences (45-60 minutes)
• Connect with us from anywhere through a convenient Zoom chat
• Tell your story in the language that feels most natural to you: English, Spanish, Portuguese, Mandarin, or Arabic

How do I sign up or get more info?
To see if you’re eligible, contact Project Coordinator, Milagros Calderon-Moya at milagros_calderon-moya@gse.harvard.edu