Black Male Principals’ Engaging Black Parents in Urban Charter Schools

This qualitative study explores the strategies employed by Black male principals to foster and sustain parent engagement in urban charter schools with a predominantly Black student body. Grounded in Epstein’s (1995) typology of parent involvement and Bass’s (2020) theory of Black Masculine Care (BMC) reveals that these principals leverage their cultural understanding and community connections to establish trust, facilitate open communication, and create a welcoming school environment. The findings highlight the importance of representation, visibility, and culturally responsive practices in promoting meaningful parent engagement. The study concludes by offering educational leaders and policymakers recommendations to enhance parent engagement in urban charter schools.