PARENTS ASSOCIATIONS IN PUBLIC CENTERS IN SECONDARY EDUCATION

Despite the relevance of the participation of families in schools, in Spain there are hardly any studies in this respect in the stage of Secondary Education. Given that the main mechanism generated to achieve this participation has been the associations of families (AMPAS), we have proposed to know their situation. We have contacted all the AMPAS of the public centres of an autonomous community and they have answered an extensive questionnaire (with open and closed questions). The situation of the AMPAS is ambiguous: more mothers than fathers are associated, few people are highly involved, there is isolation between the associations and resources are limited. Their main functions are to demand improvements in the school and to participate in the School Council.