For decades, researches has highlighted one key factor that stands above others, such as socio-economic status or the type of school a student attends: parental involvement.
If you had the chance to improve the chances of success for your children and their classmates, would you take it?
Studies show that the strength of the relationship between schools and families greatly impacts student success. When parents stay engaged in their child’s education, students tend to have better attendance, improved behaviour, higher grades, better social skills, and better overall adjustment to school life.
Moreover, parental involvement helps students develop a lifelong love of learning, which is crucial for long-term success.
Researchers have also found that when parents are actively engaged in their child’s education, it makes a positive effect on all students at the school. Simply put, the stronger the partnership between home and school, the better the school and higher the overall student achievement.
What Is Parental Involvement, and How Is It Different From Parental Engagement?
Parent involvement refers to the active, ongoing participation of a parent or a primary caregiver in a child’s education. Parents can demonstrate involvement at home by:
- Reading with Children
- Helping in homework
- Discussing school events
- Attending school functions, including parent-teacher meetings, etc.
While both parental involvement and parental engagement in school support student success, they have important differences.
Parental involvement is the first step towards deeper engagement. It begins with participation in school events or activities, where teachers share learning resources and information about students’ progress. At this the primary role in setting educational goals is taken by the teachers. Collaboration between teachers and parents leads to richer and more tailored learning experience to the student’s needs.
Engagement takes this collaboration further by establishing a true partnership between home and school. Schools empower parents and caregivers by creating opportunities for meaningful participation, acknowledging their voices as vital to the educational process, and removing barriers to engagement. For instance, schools can encourage families to join family-teacher associations or provide virtual meeting options for those with transportation challenges.
Why Is It Important to Involve Parents in School?
It Benefits Students
Children with engaged families tend to experience significant educational and personal benefits. These include:
- Achieving higher grades and test scores.
- Graduating from high school and pursuing higher education.
- Developing self-confidence and motivation in the classroom.
- Demonstrating better social skills and classroom behavior.
One study analyzing longitudinal data on math achievement revealed that encouraging families to actively support students’ math learning at home was linked to higher percentages of students scoring at or above proficiency on standardized math tests.
Additionally, students with involved parents are less likely to struggle with low self-esteem or behavioral issues. The positive effects of family engagement extend beyond individual students, as classrooms with active family involvement tend to perform better overall, benefiting nearly all students within the learning environment.
It Positively Influences Children’s Behavior
Decades of research have consistently shown that parental involvement in education leads to improved student outcomes. These include better attendance, enhanced social skills, and more positive behavior. Parental engagement also helps children adapt more effectively to the school environment.
In one study, researchers examined children’s academic and social development from first to fifth grade. They found that increases in parental involvement were associated with fewer behavioral problems and improved social skills. Additionally, children with highly involved parents exhibited enhanced social functioning and experienced fewer disciplinary issues.
The Benefits Extend to Teachers
When parents are actively engaged, teachers also benefit. Parental involvement fosters better communication, reduces classroom disruptions, and creates a collaborative atmosphere that supports both teaching and learning. This partnership allows educators to focus more on instruction and helps create a more harmonious and productive school environment.
How Can Parents Get Involved in Their Child’s Education?
- Make Learning a Priority at Home
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- Establish routines that support academic success, such as dedicated times for homework, reading, and getting adequate sleep.
- Create opportunities to assist your children with schoolwork and discuss what they are learning.
- Read Together
- Spend 10–20 minutes daily reading to or with your children.
Encourage independent and family reading to set a positive example and foster a love for books. - Maintain Open Communication with Teachers
- Spend 10–20 minutes daily reading to or with your children.
- Maintain Open Communication with Teachers
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- Ask teachers how they prefer to communicate, whether through texts, phone calls, or emails.
- Stay informed about your child’s progress and address any issues promptly.
- Attend School Events
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- Participate in parent-teacher conferences, back-to-school nights, and other school activities, even if your child isn’t in extracurricular programs.
- Use Everyday Moments to Connect
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- Turn commutes into learning opportunities by having your child read aloud or discussing their school day.
- Use family meals to engage in conversations about their experiences at school.
- Address Barriers to Engagement
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- If work schedules, cultural differences, or language barriers make involvement challenging, prioritize communication with teachers to find solutions.
- Explore school or community resources designed to help parents stay engaged.
By integrating these strategies into daily life, parents can significantly enhance their child’s educational journey and create a supportive environment for academic and personal growth.
Parental Involvement Outside the Classroom
Parental engagement often extends beyond direct involvement in their child’s education. Engaged parents frequently see themselves as advocates for their child’s school, participating in activities like volunteering or taking active roles in school governance.
Reading and Homework
By fourth grade, students are expected to transition from learning to read to reading to learn across all subjects. However, recent studies reveal that approximately two-thirds of public school fourth graders are not proficient readers. This deficiency can have far-reaching implications for their overall academic success.
The most impactful step parents and caregivers can take to support their children’s reading development is to read aloud with them. Reading aloud:
- Enhances vocabulary and comprehension.
- Builds a foundation for independent reading.
- Encourages a love for books and lifelong learning.
Making reading a shared, daily activity not only strengthens literacy skills but also nurtures a positive parent-child bond, creating an enjoyable pathway to academic and personal growth.
Youth Sports and Other Extracurricular Activities
Parents play a pivotal role in shaping their child’s attitude toward sports and extracurricular activities. They should focus on fostering the joy of learning new skills, striving toward individual or team goals, overcoming challenges, practicing good sportsmanship, and handling both victories and defeats with grace.
For parents with coaching abilities, volunteering can be an excellent way to contribute. According to the National Alliance for Youth Sports, only 5% to 10% of youth sports coaches receive formal training before taking on the role. Most coaches step up simply because their child is on the team and no one else volunteers. By getting involved, parents can make a meaningful impact, both for their own children and their teammates.
Parental Involvement in Juvenile Justice
Parents navigating the juvenile justice system on behalf of their children often face a challenging environment with limited resources. The Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative has worked to reduce reliance on detention and incarceration nationwide, aiming to create better outcomes for youth.
Despite systemic challenges, parents can play a crucial role in improving their child’s experience and outcomes within the justice system. Surveys of corrections officials highlight family involvement as one of the most critical, yet operationally difficult, aspects of the juvenile system.
A respected framework identifies five key dimensions of effective parental involvement:
- Receptivity to help – Being open to support and guidance.
- Belief in positive change – Trusting that improvement is possible.
- Investment in planning – Actively engaging in developing and implementing strategies.
- Obtaining services – Seeking and securing the necessary resources.
- Collaborative relationships – Building constructive partnerships with justice system professionals.
By actively participating within these dimensions, parents can significantly influence their child’s path toward rehabilitation and positive change.
What Successful Parental Involvement Looks Like
Experts consistently emphasize the importance of parental involvement in education, urging parents to actively participate in school activities and show genuine interest in their children’s schoolwork.
The Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Parental Involvement in Education Policy brief highlights the National PTA’s six key standards for effective parent and family engagement programs:
- Two-way communication: Schools foster regular, meaningful exchanges of information with parents.
- Support for parenting skills: Schools help parents develop and enhance their parenting abilities.
- Active assistance in learning: Parents are encouraged to play a central role in supporting their child’s educational progress.
- Welcoming atmosphere: Parents are invited to volunteer, and their contributions are actively sought and valued.
- Shared decision-making: Parents are included as full partners in decisions that affect their children and families.
- Utilization of community resources: Schools leverage community partnerships to strengthen families, schools, and learning outcomes.
By adopting these practices, schools and families can create a strong partnership that benefits students academically, socially, and emotionally.
How To Avoid Negative Parental Involvement
To avoid negative parental involvement, it’s important to strike a balance between supporting your child and giving them the independence they need to grow. Here are some tips:
- Encourage Independence: Allow your child to make decisions, solve problems, and take responsibility for their actions. This helps build resilience and confidence.
- Set Healthy Boundaries: Support your child’s education, but avoid stepping in for them on every assignment or problem. Let teachers and children take the lead on their academic journey.
- Communicate with Teachers, Not Overwhelm: Stay involved by keeping communication open with teachers, but avoid over-communicating or micromanaging their approach. Trust their expertise.
- Model Coping Skills: Instead of solving all problems for your child, teach them how to handle challenges, disappointments, and failures on their own. This helps them develop emotional resilience.
- Avoid Over-Protection: While it’s natural to want to protect your child, avoid doing so in a way that prevents them from learning from mistakes or experiencing normal setbacks.
- Respect Their Social Space: While being supportive, give your child space to grow socially and emotionally. Don’t try to control or closely monitor all their friendships or interactions.
- Be a Partner, Not a Controller: Approach school involvement as a partnership with teachers, rather than as someone who must control every aspect of your child’s learning or experience.
By finding a balance between support and independence, you can be a positive influence without hindering your child’s growth.
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