Parental Involvement in Schools Part II

So now that you have been educated on the various ways that parents can be more involved in schools, the question is how do you help them follow through? What are some of the tactics that as an educator you can provide for parents to want to be more involved in their child's education? Different districts offer different programs for students so parents have options.  Some districts may be really big on PTO,  student clubs, and academic programs, while others may have a really strong athletic program, after school program, or a strong community connection with local companies or individuals.  Whatever the situation is, it is important that as teachers we know how to encourage and support parents that may have difficulty being part of their child's education.

There are factors that influence parents greatly.  For example, the low income families will be less involved than those that are more economically stable.  Other factors include ethnicity, gender, single parent homes, and even personal interest.  Research says, "While families of all backgrounds maintain rules about grades and homework throughout high school, Ho Sui-Chu and Willms found some variations by ethnicity in the NELS:88 data:"

• African Americans reported slightly higher involvement than whites reported in all types of involvement at home. At school, the levels of involvement reported was about the same. 
• Hispanics reported slightly higher levels of home supervision than whites did, but reported about the same in all other types. 
• Asians reported more supervision at home than whites reported. Asians also reported spending less time discussing school, communicating with school staff, and volunteering and attending PTO meetings than white families reported.

Hence, it is important to know the background and really become the reflective practitioner that the many districts are in of.  Simply showing up to work everyday and teaching is not enough.  The Westat/Policy Studies Associates studyStudies on the Impact of Family and Community Involvement on Student Achievement  Southwest Educational Development Laboratory 39 used advanced statistical methods to distinguish the effects of several different standards-based reform practices. It found that students made greater and more consistent gains when teachers were “especially active” in outreach to parents. Outreach is defined as:

• meeting with parents face to face. 
• sending materials on ways to help their child at home.
• telephoning both routinely and when their child is having problems.

Make sure that you are that teacher that DOES go the EXTRA mile and reaches out the the students, community, and parents to get them involved.  This will ensure your success as a teacher and role model.  

Below are some recommendations from the Southwest Educational Development Laboratory for teachers, administrators, and parents to consider.

Via Gadoe.org

Recommendation 1. Recognize that all parents, regardless of income, education level, or cultural background, are involved in their children’s learning and want their children to do well in school.

Recommendation 2. Create programs that will support families to guide their children’s learning, from preschool through high school.

Recommendation 3. Work with families to build their social and political connections.

Recommendation 4. Develop the capacity of school staff to work with families and community members.

Recommendation 5. Link family and community engagement efforts to student learning.

Recommendation 6. Focus efforts to engage families and community members in developing trusting and respectful relationships.

Recommendation 7. Embrace a philosophy of partnership and be willing to share power with families. Make sure that parents, school staff, and community members understand that the responsibility for children’s educational development is a collaborative enterprise.

Recommendation 8. Build strong connections between schools and community organizations. 

Recommendation 9. Design and conduct research that is more rigorous and focused, and that uses more culturally sensitive and empowering definitions of parent involvement.