It is common knowledge that students who have uninvolved parents usually earn higher grades, attend school more, have better social skills, adapt well to school, and move on to education at the collegiate level. Most of us have witnessed first-hand the strong effects parents have on their children, and know of the influence parents directly have on their children's academic success. Even the Southwest Educational Development Laboratory, and others, document the fact that "when schools, families, and community groups work together to support learning, children tend to do better in school, stay in school longer, and like school more" (par 1).
But what about when parents aren't involved? What if they don't necessarily care? The U.S. Department of Education reported that there is a severe decline in parental involvement as students grow older. Furthermore, it turns out, students who are in a lower economic situation than others have even less support from their parents; 42% of poor students have parental support compared to their "better-off peers," who have 72% support.
According to the National Network of Partnership for Schools, there is hope. They provide a few ways for schools and parents to collaborate to support students. A few ways for schools to get parents on board might be the following:
- Communicate with parents about student progress and needs.
- Involve families as volunteers in the school.
- Encourage families to learn together at home.
- Coordinate with your community to provide materials for parents on how to help with homework, encouragement, and scholastic activities.
Upper Merion Area School District. Unnamed. 2008. Retrieved from http://www.umasd.org/13331098164824250/site/default.asp
Education Week. September 18, 2011. Retrieved from http://www.edweek.org/ew/issues/parent-involvement/
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