Walls or steps? Contradictions and challenges in the relationship between schools and migrant families

Abstract

The study addresses the crisis of the school-family alliance, focusing on the challenges faced by migrant parents in Italian schools. The data, collected between 2022 and 2023 in various research projects, are used to provide an updated overview of problems and resources, walls and steps, emerging in the communication and relationship dynamics between schools and migrant families, which either facilitate or hinder the educational path of new generations. Through qualitative material - interviews with teachers, parents, and educational practitioners - and quantitative data - from a survey on intercultural practices -, the analysis highlights the importance of reception, school choice guidance, and intercultural curriculum revision as key strategies for the educational success of children of migrant parents. Among the main findings, both old and new issues for the 21st century emerge: in particular, the scarce attention to cultural diversity in school inclusion and the lack of active and equal involvement of migrant families in representative bodies suggest the need for further research and targeted interventions.