Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS) Practice Exam

According to Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Model, what system is engaged when a parent connects with their child's school?

1. Exosystem

2. Microsystem

3. Macrosystem

4. Mesosystem

The correct answer is: Mesosystem

The engagement between a parent and their child's school is exemplified by the mesosystem in Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Model. The mesosystem focuses on the interconnections and interactions between the different settings in which an individual operates. In this scenario, it represents the relationship and the mutual influences between the home (where the parent engages) and the school (where the child attends). This interaction is significant because it highlights how relationships and communication between different microsystems, like home and school environments, can impact a child's development and well-being. The mesosystem acknowledges that events in one setting can affect experiences in another setting, reinforcing the idea that the child's growth is influenced not only by immediate environments but also by how those environments work together. In contrast, the other systems in Bronfenbrenner's model, while they provide important contexts, do not specifically focus on this relational aspect. The microsystem pertains to the direct environments in which a child interacts, like family and school separately. The exosystem includes external environmental settings that indirectly influence development, such as a parent's workplace. The macrosystem encompasses broader sociocultural contexts, including values and laws, that shape the overall environment but do not involve direct interaction between systems in the way