Make Parental Involvement a Priority

Surely, no one involved in education today -- parent, child, or educator -- doubts the effect of parental involvement on student academic achievement. Every important study on the subject has found that parental involvement in their children's education results in higher student grades and test scores, more positive attitudes toward school, and better behavior in and out of school. In addition, studies show that parental involvement leads to more successful academic programs and more effective schools.

The research is so overwhelming and unambiguous, in fact, that many state and federal funding programs require districts to actively promote parental involvement in order to be eligible for funds. Enhancing Education Through Technology, the U.S. Department of Education's State Education Technology Program, is an important example of those mandates. According to the 2002 legislation, "In order to receive a sub grant from a State educational agency, an eligible local entity or agency shall submit to the State educational agency an application containing…a description of how the applicant will ensure the effective use of technology to promote parental involvement and increase communication with parents, including a description of how parents will be informed of the technology being applied in their child's education so that the parents are able to reinforce at home the instruction their child receives at school."

About the Author Dixie Conner, a former classroom teacher, is a member of EDmin’s Performance Planning Department, which provides school districts with a variety of technology-based planning services. Learn More To find answers to more questions about technology planning -- the process and the product -- contact planning@edmin.com or log on to TechBuilder, a no charge, Web-based technology planning tool.

Despite all the research, the NCLB (No Child Left Behind) mandate, and the overwhelming anecdotal evidence demonstrating the positive implications of parental involvement, I still hear such questions and comments from educators as: "But, how can we get parents to participate when they are so busy already?" "How can we convince parents that their participation is important?" "Most of our parents don't speak English." "We don't have time to work with parents. We're too busy just trying to teach the kids."

Those are, in many cases, legitimate concerns. The fact remains, however, that districts and schools need to make greater efforts to overcome those problems and involve parents in every aspect of their children's education.

Joyce Epstein, director of the Center on School, Family, and Community Partnerships at Johns Hopkins University has identified six important types of cooperation between families, school, and other community organizations. As summarized in the Harvard Education Letter Research Online, those are:

1. Parenting: Families must provide for the heath and safety of children, and maintain a home environment that encourages learning and good behavior in school.
2. Communicating: Schools must reach out to families with information about school programs and student progress.
3. Volunteering: Parents can make significant contributions to the environment and functions of a school.
4. Learning at Home: With the guidance and support of teachers, family members can supervise and assist their children at home with homework assignments and other school-related activities.
5. Decision-making: Schools can give parents meaningful roles in the school decision-making process, and provide parents with training and information so they can make the most of those opportunities.
6. Collaboration with the Community: Schools can help families gain access to support services offered by other agencies, such as healthcare, cultural events, tutoring services, and after-school child-care programs.

Notice that involving parents in the planning and decision-making process is one of the most important types of cooperation identified by Epstein. It is also, however, the type of involvement most likely to be neglected by educators.

Parents can be -- and should be seen as -- valuable contributors to the planning process. They should be encouraged to share what they believe is important for their children, to help set priorities for their children's education, and to share their professional expertise with students and educators. Parents, administrators, teachers, classified staff, students and other community members need to work together as planning/decision-making teams to establish mutual goals that will ensure student success.

The following simple solutions can help all educators make parental involvement a priority in their schools:

• Encourage principals to demonstrate leadership in making parental involvement a priority.
• Provide parents with scientific research that demonstrates the importance of their involvement.
• Invite parents -- through handwritten invitations, e-mails and/or Web sites -- to participate both in the classroom and on technology committees and other decision-making teams. Inform them of ways to get involved.
• Provide home-school communications in the languages spoken in students' homes. Create a collaborative environment; ask for and act on new ideas. Let parents know they are important members of the team.
• Develop and publicize a parent-involvement policy. Publish it on the district Web site.
• Provide training for parents who work with students in the classroom.
• Provide training for parents on software applications being used for instruction, so they can assist their children with projects and homework.
• Hold meetings at various times, in convenient locations; make it easy for parents to attend.
• Provide child-care during meetings and conferences.
• Have a volunteer interpreter available at meetings and conferences. (Encourage parents to volunteer as interpreters!)
• Recognize parents who do get involved. Name a "Parent of the Month" or create a newsletter describing parents' significant contributions.
• Train teachers on how to work with parents; show them that parent involvement can save time and enrich their students' educational experience.

Previous Performance Planning Center Articles Better Students Through Technology! 11/06/2002 Technology Planning: Closing the Communications Gap 12/04/2002 Adult Literacy Service Providers: Who They Are and What They Do 1/15/03 Tough Choices in Difficult Times: Questions to consider when making application purposes 1/29/03

Article by Dixie Conner
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