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Encourage parent involvement in the school

What is it?

Young people are more successful when schools encourage parents to become partners in the education of their children, and in a broad range of school activities.

They can do this by fostering a “we’re on the same team” feeling in the school, and by developing “working relationships” with parents for the academic and social betterment of all children in the community.

Level of research support: Evidence of effectiveness

Why do it?

Involving parents in the school provides "added value" in terms of student outcomes over and above the effects of good teaching. While parent involvement should not be seen as a substitute for high-quality education, it is an important component. When parents are enabled to become effective partners in their child's education, the child's performance in school improves regardless of socio-economic status, ethnic background or the parents' educational level.

When parents are involved with the school, students have

  • higher scores in reading, math and science,
  • better attendance,
  • more positive attitudes, lower alcohol use, and
  • less violent or antisocial behaviour.

In fact the most accurate predictor of a student's achievement in school is not income or social status, but the extent to which that student's family is able to create a home environment conducive to learning (Henderson & Mapp, 2002). This involves communicating high but reasonable expectations and providing reasonable support (Fan & Chen, 2001; Henderson & Mapp, 2002; Jeynes, 2005; Hill &Tyson, 2009).

School practices to involve families make a difference in whether and which families become involved and how they become involved (Epstein, 2009).

Who is it for?

  • All students (universal)
  • Students with elevated risk profiles (selected)
  • Students displaying risky patterns (indicated)

Who can facilitate it?

  • Administration
  • Teachers
  • Counsellors
  • Parents 

How can we implement it?

Several researchers have identified different levels of school-parent involvement that contribute to positive outcomes. The items below serve as examples. However, each school needs to plan, evaluate and continually improve their initiatives in order to meet the needs of students and their families.

Develop a formal parent-involvement policy

  • Work in collaboration with parents to develop a parent-involvement policy.
  • Provide copies of the policy on your school’s website and orientation material.

Help parents increase their understanding of child and adolescent development

  • Offer information on your school website about child development.
  • Host workshops on ways to help children at home with their studies.
  • Provide parents with information related to learning and growing, including resources related to substance use.
  • Invite parents to participate in appropriate professional development activities.

Foster a parent-friendly school environment

  • Engage in regular communication between school staff and parents via newsletters, notices, telephone calls, emails and in-person meetings.
  • Maximize opportunities for parent volunteering and participation in school events.
  • Invite parents to participate in decisions about policies and programs that affect their own and other children.
  • Promote two-way communication (or three-way in the case of shared guardianship) to increase understanding and cooperation between school and home.
  • Provide parents with information about the academic work of their child, and suggest ways to support learning at home (or “homes,” in the case of parents who have shared guardianship and residency of their children).

 

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