Many factors affect student success in school, everything from school district funding to modes of instruction. Parents can't always change these factors. But they can control one critical component of student success: parent involvement. When parents show consistent interest and involvement in students' educational lives, students benefit.
Rewards of Involvement
Parents' engagement with children's academic lives improves attendance, grades, test scores, graduation rates, motivation and self-esteem, the Michigan Department of Education reports. Students with involved parents are also less likely to behave violently, be suspended or use drugs and alcohol. A 2002 Southwest Educational Development Laboratory report cited by the National Education Association found that the positive effects of parent involvement held true, whatever a family's background or income level.
Characteristics of Involved Parents
According to the Michigan Department of Education, children perform well in school when their parents have set up a daily routine, including a regular bedtime, and pay attention to their children's extracurricular activities, setting limits on screen time, for instance. Parents should also set high but appropriate expectations, model learning and hard work in their own lives, show interest in student achievement and making reading and writing a part of home life.
Types of Involvement
The National Middle School Association notes that researcher Joyce Epstein and her colleagues divide parent involvement activities into six types. Schools can improve parent involvement and student achievement by setting up activities related to parenting, communicating, volunteering, learning in the home environment, decision making and collaborating with the community. When schools, parents and communities work together in this way, student outcomes improve.
Ways to Encourage Involvement
Schools' can improve parent involvement in numerous ways. For instance, they can ensure that communication between teachers and parents remains open and regular. They can hold parent education nights to discuss better parenting approaches. Or they can name a person who will serve as liaison between the school and the parents to improve communication.
Parents of All Kinds
Although many children are raised by biological or adoptive parents, for other children the primary caregiver may be someone else: a stepparent, grandparent, aunt, uncle or older sibling, for instance. As stand-ins for the parents, these primary caregivers can also play an essential role in students' school success by remaining involved.
