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This article is part of the following categories:
Communications Multicultural Parent Involvement Teachers & Classroom


Involvement Matters: What To Tell Parents

Hundreds of research studies show that when parents get involved, children do better in school. We sum up the details that every parent should know—and you should tell them.

Involvement Matters

Building parent involvement is the single most important thing that parent groups do. Often, it's the most difficult, too. And that's too bad because there are many compelling reasons why parents—all parents—should get involved in their children's education. If you're having trouble building involvement, the problem might be that you're not making the right argument. You simply need better ammunition.

A common way to think about getting people involved is to counter their objections. People say they don't have time, so you make it clear you only need them for an hour or two. People don't feel comfortable at school, so you work to make it more welcoming. Schedules won't allow busy people to come to the school, so you find ways they can contribute from home.

Each time you address the "don't" issues, you open up your group to more people: people with time and schedule issues, those who haven't felt welcome in the past, dads, grandparents, people who don't speak English well.

All of that is important. But don't assume that once you tear down the barriers, people will flock to get involved. They should, sure. But they should go to the dentist more often, too.

It's up to you to make a stronger case for parents to get involved than "It's for the kids." For many people, that's simply not enough to get them energized. The good news is that there are compelling, definitive reasons to get involved, and they are backed up by volumes of research. Plus, they apply to everyone—no matter their bank balance, ethnicity, work schedule, education level, or anything else.

What Every Parent Should Know

Researchers have been studying the effects parent attitudes and actions have on their children's academic success for more than 30 years. The results have been consistent. Anne Henderson and Nancy Berla summed it up in their book A New Generation of Evidence: The Family Is Critical to Student Achievement, which reviewed the existing research: "When parents are involved in their children's education at home, they do better in school. And when parents are involved in school, children go farther in school and the schools they go to are better."

Much of the information here is taken from publications by Henderson, a consultant at New York University's Institute for Education and Social Policy, and various coauthors that examine parent involvement research; and from publications by Joyce Epstein, director of the National Network of Partnership Schools at Johns Hopkins University; the National Center for Parent Involvement in Education, which Henderson helped found; and summaries of research prepared by the Michigan Department of Education, San Diego Unified School District, and others.

Major Benefits

Research shows that when parents are involved in their children's education, the children are more likely to:

  • earn better grades.
  • score higher on tests.
  • pass their classes.
  • attend school regularly.
  • have better social skills.
  • show improved behavior.
  • be more positive in their attitude toward school.
  • complete homework assignments.
  • graduate and continue their education.

More Is Better

Parents can serve many different roles in the educational process: home teachers, advocates for their children, volunteers, fundraisers, boosters. And they can even serve in decisionmaking and oversight roles for the school. The more parents participate in a sustained way at each of these levels, the better for student achievement.

Start Early

When parents get involved early in their children's education, the results are more pronounced and long-lasting.

At All Levels

Studies indicate that parent involvement in education has a positive effect at all grade levels: elementary, middle, and high school.

Dads Matter

In both two-parent and father-only households where dads are highly involved in their schools, children are more likely to:

  • succeed academically.
  • participate in extracurricular activities.
  • enjoy school.

They are less likely to:

  • have to repeat a grade.
  • be suspended or expelled.

A Significant Difference

One study found that students from families with above-average parent involvement were 30 percent more successful in school than those with below-average involvement. Success was measured by GPA; test scores in math, science, reading, and social studies; promotion and retention rates; and teacher ratings.

Also Significant

Another study found that in schools where teachers reported high levels of outreach to parents, test scores grew at a rate 40 percent higher than in schools that reported low levels of outreach to parents.

Home and School

A three-year study of 12,000 high school student concluded that "When parents come to school regularly, it reinforces the view in the child's mind that school and home are connected and that school is an integral part of the whole family's life."

Reading and the Parent Group

A two-year study of home and school influences on literacy achievement among children from low-income families found that the single variable most positively connected to all literacy skills was formal involvement in parent-school activities such as PTO participation, attending school activities, and serving as a volunteer.

Tell the Principal

Schools with involved parents enjoy:

  • better morale among teachers.
  • higher ratings of teachers by parents.
  • more support from families.
  • a better reputation in the community.

Parents Benefit, Too

When parents become involved in their children's education, the parents are more likely to:

  • be more confident at school.
  • be more confident in themselves as parents and their ability to help their children learn.
  • be held in higher esteem by teachers and have teachers expect more from their children.
  • enroll in continuing education to advance their own schooling.

A Final Note

Why should parents get involved? Because involvement can make a dramatic difference for their children.

Why should school administrators encourage involvement? Because it can make a significant difference, both in school atmosphere and in the success rate of students—especially when parents are included as partners in the educational process.

Parent involvement is a powerful tool. Spread the word.



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Comments

  1. Posted by - Aaron on Jan. 04, 2009

    Me parece un excelente artículo.

  2. Posted by - Alice People on Dec. 01, 2008

    Why my comments won't be published?

  3. Posted by - Mary on Oct. 29, 2008

    I am on my school's PTO and, quite frankly, tired of the fundraising. I found a way to give directly to the teacher, on my own time. A teacher registry called goldstarregistry.com. She created the registry of classroom supplies she normally buys out of her pocket. I go online and choose something off her list. I love it because I see what is being taught in the classroom and it makes me feel a bit more connected. This is a great idea for a great teacher gift - for the holidays, or just a "thanks for all you do" kind of a gift. It won't take the place of fundraising, but every little bit helps!

  4. Posted by - Yvonne Bruman on Sep. 21, 2008

    I love this article. This is my 9th year in the elementry school due to the age difference of my two children. They are in 8th and 5th grade. Until this past August, I have owned my own business where I worked almost 7 days a week. I still made time because I cared. I see my son's teacher 2-3 times per week and keep tabs on him. If there's a problem, I want to know right away. I also really love the school and what the PTO does for it. I have been the secretary for three years and the bookfair chairperson for six years. I love it because I can let my creativity run wild. The more outrageous and dramatic and eyecatching, the better. So, as I am writing this, I am searching for ideas for our new PTO bulletin board and how to make it stand out. I want it to pop. I want people to feel, "Hey, I want to be a part of something that does that and cares that much about the students." If anyone has any ideas, let me know. Thanks for listening.

  5. Posted by - P Barrett on Sep. 16, 2008

    I am the PTO President at my son's school. This year, instead of doing our typical fund-raisers and selling a bunch of junk as T Barnes stated, we will have monthly Family Fellowship Dinners at local restaurants. A % of the dinners go back to the PTO. So it's not only a fund-raiser but it's fellowship/family time also. Last year we did it only once and made over $200 in a 2 hour time span and the families that came loved it! :) Thank you Kathryn for the link to '10 Reasons to Get Involved'

  6. Posted by - T Barnes on Sep. 05, 2008

    I definitely agree that parent involvement is crucial to the success of their children. However, the true involvement is directly with the child, teacher and school, not the PTO. I would rather donate money directly to the school instead of constantly being solicited and even harassed by the PTO to buy a bunch of over priced junk sold in the form fund raisers. Since school started on August 11th, I have purchased from the PTO a membership, t-shirts for both of my children, and snacks ($22.00 for the school year). The PTO just sent home a fund raiser also - the typical catalogs full of junk. The PTO and the school constantly pressure parents into buying all of this stuff. Too much of it pushes people away. I can be just as involved, if not more, with my children by spending time with them discussing school issues and assignments. Teachers also encourage parents to contact them anytime they have questions or concerns.

  7. Posted by - A Taylor on May. 28, 2008

    As a teacher, I found some very helpful ideas. Thanks for a great article.

  8. Posted by - Allen Lake on May. 01, 2008

    This article is so true. Here in Topeka, I am the President of East Indianola's PTO and we are conitnously trying to get more involvement. These ideas are keen, but don't always work. You just can't give up though. If you can get atleast 2 parents to come to a meeting/function, that have not usually attended, you will most likely grow.

  9. Posted by - Kathy Hyman on Apr. 03, 2008

    I just mentioned many of these reason when I spoke to the rising 6th grade families last week. It would have been great to site the studies. I will definitely have a handout at Parent Orientation. Thanks for all you do!

  10. Posted by - SK Wade on Apr. 02, 2008

    Great Article. Parents need to see it.

  11. Posted by - Megan on Mar. 21, 2008

    For so many years I've read the statements how children do better when parents get involved. I've always believed it to be true, but had a hard time sharing it because it's gave information about where the studies were performed or who performed them. I loved finally reading this information and connecting it to an actual study.

    It's a much stronger statement when you know who performed the study and how you can find out more information on it.

  12. Posted by - deloris gentry on Feb. 19, 2008

    I have read this article in your magazine and now on line. This time I WILL SHARE IT WITH THE PARENTS OF MY PTO GROUP.I thank you so much for your encouragement.This might be just what I need.

  13. Posted by - Kathryn Lagden on Feb. 07, 2008

    Great idea to pass out involvement info to parents. There's some good stuff in the File Exchange as well. A whole category for Volunteers & Involvement. This file is great as a handout - "10 Reasons To Get Involved". You'll find it here - http://www.ptotoday.com/filesharing?task=doc_details&gid=89

  14. Posted by - Kathi Molinar on Feb. 06, 2008

    Trying to get parents involved in our school's fundraising activities as well as attending our monthly Parent's Club has been quiet a chore for me this year. I think the article was great and might use it to pass out in our monthly folders to each parent!

  15. Posted by - monique johnson on Feb. 05, 2008

    This site helped me a lot at my son's school we are in the process of trying to get parents involved and I hope this info. will help us in the future

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