The Portrayal of Parents in the School Mathematics Reform Literature: Locating the Context for Parental Involvement

In this article, using reform recommendations that call for parental involvement as a springboard, I provide an analysis of the positioning of parents in the school mathematics reform literature. Employing Foucault's (1980) conception of "regimes of truth," I demonstrate how the literature has created the accepted discourse for mathematics education reform. I then argue that the professionalization of teachers has distanced parents from schools and led to conflict between parents and mathematics educators and that to reconcile this conflict, ways in which parents can be included in mathematics education must be considered. It is essential first, however, to understand issues central to involving parents in mathematics education. A research agenda for parental involvement in mathematics education is presented.