BURLINGTON-EDISON SCHOOL DISTRICTAPRIL 7 T H , 2014

Highlighting Parent Involvement in Education

Family Involvement

Research demonstrates that parent/ family involvement significantly contributes to improved student outcomes.

Everyone -- students, parents, teachers, administrators, and communities -- benefits from family involvement.

What are the Benefits?

More positive attitudes toward school;Higher achievement, better attendance, and

more homework completed consistently;Higher graduation rates and enrollment rates

in post-secondary education;Better schools to attend.

Benefits for Parents

Greater knowledge of education programs and how schools work;

Knowledge of how to be more supportive of children;

Greater confidence about ways to help children learn;

More positive view of teachers; and,Greater empowerment.

Benefits for School Staff

Greater teaching effectiveness;Higher expectations of students;Increased ability to understand family views

and cultures;Greater appreciation of parent volunteers;

and,Improved morale.

Benefits for Communities

Greater strength;Greater impact of services through

comprehensive, integrated approach;Increased access to services for families.

Research on Involvement

Effective parent/family involvement improves student outcomes throughout the school years.

While parent/family involvement improves student outcomes, variations in culture, ethnicity, and/ or socioeconomic background affect how families are involved.

Research on Involvement

Parent/family involvement at home has more impact on children than parent/family involvement in school activities.

The nature of effective parent/family involvement changes as children reach adolescence.

Research on Involvement

Parent/family involvement in early childhood programs help children succeed in their transition to kindergarten and elementary school.

Parent/families may need guidance and assistance in how to effectively help their children with homework.

Research on Involvement

Parent/family involvement will differ for ethnic and cultural groups. These differences should be considered when planning parent/ family involvement programs.

Improved student outcomes have been documented in math and reading when families are involved.

Research on Involvement

The most promising opportunity for student achievement occurs when families, schools, and community organizations work together.

To be effective, school programs must be individualized to fit the needs of the students, parents, and community.

Research on Involvement

Effective programs assist parents in creating a home environment that fosters learning and provides support and encouragement for their children’s success.

Teachers must be trained to promote effective parent/family involvement.

Outdated Thinking on Parent Involvement

Parents should come to school only when invited;

Stay-at-home mothers should serve as “homeroom mothers”;

Parents visit school mainly for children’s performances and open houses;

Parents help raise money for school.

Current Thinking on Parent Involvement

Schools that have been the most successful in involving families look beyond traditional definitions to a broader view that considers parents/families as full partners in the education of their children.

These schools view children’s learning as a shared responsibility among everyone involved in the child’s education.

These schools work hard to understand and value the traditions, experiences, and cultures that are unique to each family.

What is a Family?

Traditional?Blended?Extended?Multi-generational?Migrant?Minority?Single-parent?Divorced?Other?

What is a Family?

“Parent” or “Family” refers to anyone actively involved in raising and educating a child.

Factors in Involvement

Parents are a child’s first teachers.The American family has changed

dramatically over the last 50 years.Schools aren’t always knowledgeable in how

to encourage involvement.Parents don’t always recognize the

importance of becoming involved or know where to begin.

Ten Truths of Parent Involvement

1. All parents have hopes and goals for their children. They differ in how they support their children’s efforts to achieve those goals.

2. The home is one of several areas that simultaneously influence a child. The school must work with people in the other areas for the child’s benefit.

Ten Truths of Parent Involvement

3. The parent is the central contributor to a child’s education. Schools can either ignore this fact or recognize the potential of the parent.

4. Parent involvement must be a legitimate element of education. It deserves equal emphasis with elements such as program improvement and evaluation.

Ten Truths of Parent Involvement

5. Parent involvement is a process, not a program of activities. It requires ongoing energy and effort.

6. Parent involvement requires a vision, policy, and framework. A consensus of understanding is important.

Ten Truths of Parent Involvement

7. Parents’ interaction with their own children is the cornerstone of parent involvement. A program must recognize the value, diversity, and difficulty of this role.

8. Most barriers to parent involvement are found within school practices. They are not found with parents.

Ten Truths of Parent Involvement

9. Any parent can be “hard to reach.” Parents must be identified and approached individually; they are not defined by gender, ethnicity, family situation, education, or income.

10. Successful parent involvement nurtures relationships and partnerships. It strengthens bonds between home and school, parent and teacher, parent and school, school and community.

Barriers to Involvement

Lack of a school environment that supports parent/family involvement;

School practices that do not accommodate the diversity of family needs;

Child care constraints;Families’ past negative experiences with

schools and/or feelings of uncertainty about “treading on school territory.”

Barriers to Involvement

Cultural differences (language barriers, attitudes toward professionals, lack of knowledge of the American education system);

Primacy of basic needs (food, clothing, and shelter take precedence over educational needs);

Barriers to Involvement

Feelings of inadequacy associated with difference in income or education;

Safety, especially in inner-city school neighborhoods;

Uncertainty about what to do; and,Lack of time.

100 Ways

The brochure, “100 Ways for Parents to be Involved in Their Child’s Education” is available from the National PTA; http://www.pta.org/ Based on the National Standards for Parent/Family

Involvement Programs.

Remember These 10 Guiding Principles

Family members are equal partners in a child’s education.

The home environment is the “primary” educational environment.

Schools must respect the diversity of families and their varied needs.

All families care about their children.

Remember These 10 Guiding Principles

Family involvement is important through all years of a child’s education.

Family involvement takes many forms and may not require a family’s presence at school.

Families, schools, and communities are closely interconnected and must collaborate in educating children.

Remember These 10 Guiding Principles

School leaders and staff need support and training in how to encourage family involvement.

One size does not fit all when developing school-family partnerships.

Change takes time and building successful partnerships requires much effort over time.

PRESENTATION ADAPTED FOR USE FROM WEST VIRGINIA STATE TITLE I

RESOURCES

Thank You!