This paper presents a " National Research on the Quality of Education: Parents' Opinions about Public Schools" , done by Fundação Cesgranrio for DAEB/INEP/MEC in 2004/2005. The research is qualitative and quantitative in its methodological nature, and aimed at producing a comprehensive and general view of the relationship between schools and students' guardians, from the parents/guardians' perspective. Two different methodologies were used to gather information: in the first stage, information was gathered through ten focus groups; in the second one, through surveys answered by 10.500 parents or guardians, from all of the Brazilian states. The results presented here show the views and expectations of parents towards their children's schools. The research involved students from both municipal and state public elementary schools. Besides other results, the research revealed that parents of Brazilian public school students are generally satisfied with the education received by their children today and that they consider it better than the one received by themselves when they were students.
Evaluation processes; Research; School and family; Quality-Educational actions; Methodology; Educational policy; Information gathering