Key Idea Parent involvement at home has a powerful impact on children’s school success. If parents aren’t coming into the school, it doesn’t mean they aren’t involved in important ways.

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Seven strategies for identifying areas needing attention.

1. Keep all parents well informed, not just the parents who are able to come to the school.
2. Provide information on how to create a good learning environment for children at home. Make this appropriate to the age and grade of the students.
3. Give parents examples of specific ways to support their children in learning.
4. Help parents identify the tools, materials, and kinds of interactions that create a language- and literacy-rich home.
5. Help parents motivate their children by establishing high standards for learning and identifying achievable goals.
6. Encourage parents to be role models.
7. Share information about accessing community resources.

Strategies for SEAs

• Provide sample documents and templates for schools to use in communicating with parents.
• Assist with establishing guidelines for accomplishing specific tasks, such as those described in this podcast.
• Provide professional development resources for districts and schools.

Resources

Epstein, J. L., Simon, B. S., & Salinas, K. C. (1997). Involving Parents in Homework in Middle Grades. Bloomington, IN: Phi Delta Kappa Center for Evaluation, Development, and Research, Research. Available: www.pdkintl.org/research/rbulletins/resbul18.htm

Miedel, W. T., & Reynolds, A. J. (1999). Parent involvement in early intervention for disadvantaged children: Does it matter? Journal of School Psychology, 35(4), 379-402.

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