Frequently Asked Questions

Question:
How can I get parents involved in their child’s education?

Answer:
It only makes sense that when parents are involved in their child’s education the child is better off and to back that statement up there is, of course, research on the subject. A Policy Analysis by CATO Institute reveals “that parental involvement in a child’s education is a strong predictor of student achievement: typically, the more involved the parent, the better off the child.”

Getting parents involved can be both the easiest and the hardest thing that any school has to do. Foremost, a school must create an environment where parents feel welcome. After the welcoming environment is created, school personnel should not be afraid to visit and/or call parents at home and personally invite them to become active members of the school community. Parents are their children’s first teachers. Schools and families must partner to maximize students’ learning potential. Schools can help parents become active participants in their children’s education by helping them establish practices to promote effective learning. Techniques schools could suggest include:

• Encouraging teachers and parents to develop contracts under which they are equal partners. These contracts define the goals, expectations and responsibilities.
• Training school staff to value parental involvement and to reach out to parents and invite their participation.
• Giving parents a voice in decisions about their children’s education.
• Assigning homework that involves parents in the learning process—such as the construction of family trees or reporting on parents’ jobs.
• Create parent centers within the school where parents can meet amongst themselves, with school personnel, or to form groups to discuss and work on school projects.>
• Extending the school’s hours of operation to allow parents to participate in recreational activities with their children and to provide adult education and parent training.

• Distributing a monthly newsletter that goes home with the child each month and includes activities for the child, articles for the parents, and information relating to upcoming school activities. And/or distribute the monthly newsletter online and allow parents to receive the newsletter via email.
• Having parents sign off on homework assignments. (This tip comes from Teaching Today).
Offering parents classes and strategies for homework success. Download "A Parent's Guide to Homework Help.")
• Inviting parents to attend PTA and School Board Meetings.
• Being flexible with parent/teacher conference times, so that every parent has an opportunity to meet with their child’s teacher.
• Promoting an open-door policy that allows parents to come into the classroom at any time.
• Hosting informal and/or formal activities that allow parents to network with the teachers and school personnel, along with other parents, such as a themed event like of Mexican Fiesta or Hawaiian Luau.
• Inviting parents to visit and enjoy their children during a dance recital, baseball game, track meet, or any other extra curricular activity.
• Hosting a friendly game (i.e. basketball, baseball): parents vs. students.
• Coordinating a contest where the teams consist of a child and a parent.
• Organizing a fun festival, which can also be a money maker for the school.
• Sending home a survey—everybody wants and likes to share their opinion(s). In this survey, ask parents about their expertise and if they are willing to donate some time to the school in a field where they are most comfortable.
• Inviting parents to share items of cultural diversity.
• Organizing a career day where parents are invited to share their field of expertise with students.
• Offering a technology learning night for both the parents and students.
• Offering reading hours for parents and students.

While parents are responsible for taking part in their child’s education—the school can promote and encourage this participation by:

• Providing a safe and friendly environment for students and parents.
• Keeping the school’s online calendar up-to-date.
• Publicizing school activities in the local newspaper and community calendars.
• Updating the school’s website so that parents can access current information.
• Publicizing and informing parents of projected school activities.
• Coordinating, organizing, and hosting activities.
• Implementing, planning, designing, and distributing the school newsletter.
• Communicating with parents on a regular basis and include both positive and negative feedback. (This tip comes from Teaching Today).

If you have tried everything under the sun to get parents involved and there is still a lack of interest and/or involvement you may want to consider requiring parental participation. How it works: Basically when a student is admitted into the school, parents sign a contract to work a specified number of hours. Executive Director of Los Angeles Leadership Academy, Roger Lowenstein said, Los Angeles Leadership Academy has parent contracts, which are strictly enforced and require three hours a month work at the school. We have 99% cooperation. And Summit Charter School in North Carolina has a Parent Partnership Agreement, which explains the philosophy behind the agreement, responsibilities of the charter school, student, family, staff of the charter school, director, and termination of the partnership agreement. To view other parent involvement examples click here.

Remember not to hesitate on getting parents involved—the sooner the better.
Here’s to the future of our children and our nation!

Sources:

Cato Policy Analysis No. 383 dated October 26, 2000.
Teaching Today 26 August 2003.

For additional information on Parental Involvement, please visit: Involving Parents in the Education of Their Children. ERIC Digest. http://www.ericfacility.net/ericdigests/ed308988.html Parental Involvement Is as Easy as PIE! http://www.education-world.com/a_curr/curr030.shtml Connecting Families and Schools to Help Our Children Succeed. http://www.ed.gov/PressReleases/02-1994/parent.html Parental Information and Resource Centers http://www.ed.gov/offices/OII/portfolio/pirc.html