Faculty Sponsor: Valerie Nazzaro
Live Poster Session: Zoom Link
Abstract: The interplay between parental political engagement and the choice of public versus private schooling for their children provides a unique lens for examining political polarization in the United States. While extensive research highlights associations between education levels and political leanings, there is limited exploration of how these patterns perpetuate generationally. This study investigates how politically engaged parents influence their children’s educational environments and, in turn, their political socialization. Findings have significant implications for understanding the role of foundational institutions, like schools, in cultivating political ideologies and addressing the growing polarization in the U.S. These insights contribute to broader discussions about the intersections of education, civic engagement, socioeconomic status, and party politics, offering a deeper understanding of how political behaviors are both informed by and shape social structures.