Parental involvement in schools is a better predictor of children's academic success than the student's IQ, socioeconomic status, or even the school environment, according to the Utah Department of Education. It is so important to students' success in school that most high-performing private schools require volunteer hours from each family. Public schools cannot require parents to volunteer, but they work to educate parents about the importance of involvement and encourage them to participate in schools.
Setting Expectations
According to Sandra L. Christenson, Ph.D, parents who set high but realistic academic expectations for their children often find that their children meet those expectations. When parents demonstrate and reinforce that they place a high importance on school, children are more likely to succeed academically and less likely to get into trouble. Parents also set expectations for the school and provide accountability for teachers and administrators.
Home Environment
Parents who recognize that learning is a lifestyle, not an activity confined to the school day, naturally create a learning-rich environment at home. You can foster this environment by ensuring that your children have a time and place for homework, limiting overall television time and watching informative, engaging programming with your kids, and having frequent and ongoing discussions with your kids about school, current events and other topics.
How To Help
One of the biggest hurdles to parental involvement in schools is that many parents don't know how to get involved or how to help their children learn outside of school. Regular communication between teachers and parents is a good way to inform parents about the specific needs in their child's classroom.
Hectic Schedules
Often parents are working or have other responsibilities that limit their ability to get involved during the school day. However, the schools can reach out to those parents by offering opportunities to get involved in the evenings and weekends.
Parental Involvement Over Time
According to Joyce L. Epstein, author of "School, Family, and Community Partnerships: Your Handbook for Action," direct parental involvement in schools is generally highest in elementary school. As children move into junior high and high school, that involvement tends to change from active participation in school activities to attending as a spectator.
References
- Michigan Department of Education: What The Research Says About Parent Involvement In Children's Education
- Johns Hopkins University: Family Partnerships With High Schools: The Parents' Perspective
- "School, Family, and Community Partnerships: Your Handbook for Action;" Joyce L. Epstein, Professor Mavis Grovenia Sanders, Steven Sheldon, and Beth S. Simon; November 2008
- University of Minnesota: Parenting For School Success: Standards and Expectations
- Utah Department of Education: Parent Involvement Equals Student Success
