Do Schools Really Need More Volunteers?1

Abstract

Although educational policy makers are trying to involve more volunteers in schools, surprisingly little is known about the nature, scope, and efficacy of volunteer activities. For example, the literature offers policy makers only anecdotal answers to the following important questions: Who is volunteering in our schools? What do volunteers do? How do volunteers benefit schools? Are there costs associated with using volunteers? Are volunteers distributed equitably among schools? This article reports on a study that provides answers to these questions. Using multiple methods to analyze data from volunteers and administrators in New York elementary schools, this study shows, for example, that volunteers benefit schools in a number of important ways, including improving school-community relations. However, the study also reveals that high poverty schools have fewer volunteers than other schools. The policy implications of these and other findings are discussed.