Understanding the meaning of family-school collaboration in preschool education: A constructivist grounded theory approach

The collaboration between family and school constitutes a significant area of academic inquiry, as both institutions play a pivotal role in the holistic development and education of the child. The positive interconnection between these two primary agents of socialization has been extensively acknowledged in the literature, emphasizing the necessity for the establishment of systematic and sustained partnerships. Nonetheless, the definition of such collaboration varies, a fact that inspired the present study. The objective was to investigate how both parents and educators conceptualize family-school collaboration. The findings indicate that the notion of collaboration is structured around three central dimensions: its purpose; communication, specifically regarding the mode, frequency, and initiative of interaction; and the boundaries, primarily set by educators, in order to sustain a constructive and balanced relationship. The methodological framework employed was Grounded Theory Methodology, with a particular focus on Charmaz’s constructivist approach.