Parent and Community Involvement in Education Does parental and
community involvement make a difference in the success and
achievement of students?
Slide 3
Three Major Factors of Parental Involvement There are three
major factors of parental involvement in the education of the
children. The parents beliefs on what is important, necessary and
permissible for the parents to do with and on the behalf of their
children. The parents beliefs on the extent of their involvement in
their childrens education can have a positive influence on their
childrens education. The attitudes and perceptions the parents
receive from the school and their children about their involvement
in their childrens education will determine if the parents become
involved or not involved. Parents who are totally involved in their
childrens education help them have more successful achievements
than children with no parental involvement. Elementary, middle and
high school students want their parents to be more informed about
schooling. They are willing to take active roles in helping the
communication gap between home and school. (Michigan Department of
Education, 2001)
Slide 4
National Standards for Parent/Family Involvement Programs
Standard I: Communicating Communication between home and schools is
regular, two-way, and meaningful. Standard I: Communicating
Communication between home and schools is regular, two-way, and
meaningful. Standard II: Parenting-Parenting skills are promoted
and supported. Standard II: Parenting-Parenting skills are promoted
and supported. Standard III: Student Learning-Parents play an
integral role in assisting student learning. Standard III: Student
Learning-Parents play an integral role in assisting student
learning. Standard IV: Volunteering-Parents are welcome in the
school, and their support and assistance is sought. Standard IV:
Volunteering-Parents are welcome in the school, and their support
and assistance is sought. Standard V: School Decision Making and
Advocacy-Parents are full partners in the decisions that affect
children and families. Standard V: School Decision Making and
Advocacy-Parents are full partners in the decisions that affect
children and families. Standard VI: Collaborating with
Community-Community resources are used to strengthen schools,
families, and student learning. (National PTA, 1995) Standard VI:
Collaborating with Community-Community resources are used to
strengthen schools, families, and student learning. (National PTA,
1995)
Slide 5
Six Types of Involvement Volunteering: Recruit and organize
parent help and support. Volunteering: Recruit and organize parent
help and support. School and classroom volunteer program to help
teachers, administrators, students, and other parents. Parent room
or family center for volunteer work, meetings, and resources for
families. School and classroom volunteer program to help teachers,
administrators, students, and other parents. Parent room or family
center for volunteer work, meetings, and resources for families.
Annual postcard survey to identify all available talents, times,
and locations of volunteers. Annual postcard survey to identify all
available talents, times, and locations of volunteers. Learning at
Home: Provide information and ideas to families about how to help
Learning at Home: Provide information and ideas to families about
how to help students at home with homework and other
curriculum-related activities, decisions and planning. students at
home with homework and other curriculum-related activities,
decisions and planning. Information for families on skills required
for students in all subjects at each grade. Information for
families on skills required for students in all subjects at each
grade. Information on homework policies and how to monitor and
discuss schoolwork at home. Information on homework policies and
how to monitor and discuss schoolwork at home. Family participation
in setting student goals each year and in planning for college or
work. Family participation in setting student goals each year and
in planning for college or work. Decision Making: Include parents
in schools decisions, developing parent leaders and
representatives. Decision Making: Include parents in schools
decisions, developing parent leaders and representatives. Active
PTA/PTO or other parent organizations, advisory councils, or
committees for parent leadership and participation. Active PTA/PTO
or other parent organizations, advisory councils, or committees for
parent leadership and participation. Independent advocacy groups to
lobby and work for school reform and improvements. Independent
advocacy groups to lobby and work for school reform and
improvements.
Slide 6
Six Types of Involvement Continued Collaborating with
Community: Identify and integrate resources and services from the
community to strengthen schools programs, family practices, and
student learning and development. (Michigan Department of
Education, 1995) Collaborating with Community: Identify and
integrate resources and services from the community to strengthen
schools programs, family practices, and student learning and
development. (Michigan Department of Education, 1995) Information
for students and families on community health, cultural,
recreational, social support, and other programs/services.
Information for students and families on community health,
cultural, recreational, social support, and other
programs/services. Information on community activities that link to
learning skills and talents, Information on community activities
that link to learning skills and talents, including summer programs
for students. (Michigan Department of Education, 2001) including
summer programs for students. (Michigan Department of Education,
2001)
Slide 7
The key to great parental involvement is communication. It is
important for teachers and administrators to form as many open and
positive doors of communication the first day of school.
Slide 8
These characteristics are exhibited by families whose children
are doing well in school: Establish a daily family routine.
Examples: Providing time and a quiet place to study, assigning
responsibility for household chores, being firm about bedtime and
having dinner together. Monitor out-of-school activities. Examples:
Setting limits on TV watching, checking up on children when parents
are not home, arranging for after-school activities and supervised
care. Model the value of learning, self-discipline, and hard work.
Examples: Communicating through questioning and conversation,
demonstrating that achievement comes from working hard. Express
high but realistic expectations for achievements. Examples: Setting
goals and standards that are appropriate for childrens age and
maturity, recognizing and encouraging special talents, informing
friends and family about successes. Encourage childrens
development/progress in school. Examples: Maintaining a warm and
supportive home, showing interest in childrens progress at school,
helping with homework, discussing the value of a good education and
possible career options, staying in touch with teachers and school
staff. Encourage reading, writing, and discussions among family
members. Examples: Reading, listening to children read and talking
about what is being read. When parents come to school regularly, it
reinforces the view in the childs mind that school and home are
connected and that school is an integral part of the whole familys
life. (Michigan Department of Education, 2001)
Slide 9
Parent Teacher Association The P.T.A. was founded in 1897. The
PTA has more than six million members. Mothers, account for the
largest number of members. Parents, teachers and the community work
as a team to resolve issues at their school.
Slide 10
Parent Teacher Association Continued: The PTA is open to any
person wanting to help better the education of our future leaders.
Only one in four parents is actively involved in their childrens
education according to the National Parent Teacher Association.
Research tells us that the more parents are involved in their
childrens education test scores and grades are higher.
Slide 11
Teamwork is the key, so let us join hands and form a strong
parental and community involvement team for our children!
Slide 12
Parents To Do List Before the Conference Schedule an
appointment for the conference: the school schedules Parent-
Teacher conferences two to three times a year. A parent can contact
the teacher for a conference if unable to attend the scheduled
conferences. Schedule an appointment for the conference: the school
schedules Parent- Teacher conferences two to three times a year. A
parent can contact the teacher for a conference if unable to attend
the scheduled conferences. Talk to your child: Parents need to find
out what classes the child(ren) like and dislike. The parent needs
to ask why he/she likes these classes and dislikes these classes.
Ask the child (ren) if he/she wants the parent to discuss any
issues with their teacher(s) during the parent-teacher conference.
The parent needs to make sure the child (ren) understand the reason
for attending the conferences so they can help make sure the child
(ren) have the best interest in the child (ren) s education. Talk
to your child: Parents need to find out what classes the child(ren)
like and dislike. The parent needs to ask why he/she likes these
classes and dislikes these classes. Ask the child (ren) if he/she
wants the parent to discuss any issues with their teacher(s) during
the parent-teacher conference. The parent needs to make sure the
child (ren) understand the reason for attending the conferences so
they can help make sure the child (ren) have the best interest in
the child (ren) s education. Include the child (ren) in the
conference if they are in middle or high school. Include the child
(ren) in the conference if they are in middle or high school.
Gather input from others: The parent(s) need to get input from
others if they are unable to attend the conference (spouse, doctor,
counselor, and other guardians). Ask them about concerns and
questions they have about the child (ren) that need addressing
during the conference. Gather input from others: The parent(s) need
to get input from others if they are unable to attend the
conference (spouse, doctor, counselor, and other guardians). Ask
them about concerns and questions they have about the child (ren)
that need addressing during the conference. Make a list: Parent
needs to make a list of issues and concerns to discuss with the
teacher(s) during the conference. A parent needs to ask questions
about academics and behavior of their children. Share your child
(ren)s home life, personality, concerns, habits, and hobbies with
the teacher(s). Parent(s) need to include religions, holidays, part
time jobs, a sick relative or the death of a relative during the
conference. The teacher(s) will have a real understanding of the
parent(s) and the children. Make a list: Parent needs to make a
list of issues and concerns to discuss with the teacher(s) during
the conference. A parent needs to ask questions about academics and
behavior of their children. Share your child (ren)s home life,
personality, concerns, habits, and hobbies with the teacher(s).
Parent(s) need to include religions, holidays, part time jobs, a
sick relative or the death of a relative during the conference. The
teacher(s) will have a real understanding of the parent(s) and the
children.
Slide 13
During the Conference Establish a rapport: The parent needs to
give some type of praise or thank you to help form a positive
relationship between the parent(s) and teacher(s). Establish a
rapport: The parent needs to give some type of praise or thank you
to help form a positive relationship between the parent(s) and
teacher(s). Ask questions: The parent needs to ask questions during
the conference to let the teacher(s) know your hopes and dreams for
the child (ren)s success in class and for the teacher. The parent
needs to remember to ask the very important questions at the
beginning of the conference in case the conference runs out of
time. Ask questions: The parent needs to ask questions during the
conference to let the teacher(s) know your hopes and dreams for the
child (ren)s success in class and for the teacher. The parent needs
to remember to ask the very important questions at the beginning of
the conference in case the conference runs out of time. Address any
problems: A parent should discuss concerns and problems their child
(ren) is having in school at this time. Address any problems: A
parent should discuss concerns and problems their child (ren) is
having in school at this time. The parent(s) need to avoid getting
upset or apologetic reactions during the conference. Ask what is
being done about the problem and what strategies are being used to
help at school. The team needs to develop a plan of action to help
with the problem and schedule another conference. The parent(s)
need to avoid getting upset or apologetic reactions during the
conference. Ask what is being done about the problem and what
strategies are being used to help at school. The team needs to
develop a plan of action to help with the problem and schedule
another conference. Develop an action plan: The parent(s) and
teacher(s) need to develop an action plan together that meets the
specific objectives and goals of the child (ren). Parents need to
make sure they understand the plan completely. Plan a method of
contact with the teacher(s) to keep a check on the progress of
their child (ren). Develop an action plan: The parent(s) and
teacher(s) need to develop an action plan together that meets the
specific objectives and goals of the child (ren). Parents need to
make sure they understand the plan completely. Plan a method of
contact with the teacher(s) to keep a check on the progress of
their child (ren). After the conference: The parent(s) needs to sit
down and discuss the conference with the child (ren). Inform the
child (ren) if you and the teacher(s) made an action plan. It is
important to keep in touch with the teacher(s) after the problem is
resolved. Write a thank you note or phone call to let the
teacher(s) know how much you appreciate their help. This type of
communication can play an important role in helping their child
(ren) do better in school. (Array, 2009) After the conference: The
parent(s) needs to sit down and discuss the conference with the
child (ren). Inform the child (ren) if you and the teacher(s) made
an action plan. It is important to keep in touch with the
teacher(s) after the problem is resolved. Write a thank you note or
phone call to let the teacher(s) know how much you appreciate their
help. This type of communication can play an important role in
helping their child (ren) do better in school. (Array, 2009)
Slide 14
After the Conference The parent needs to keep in touch with the
teacher on the progress of the student. The parent needs to keep in
touch with the teacher on the progress of the student. Talk with
their child at home about the conference you had with their
teacher. Talk with their child at home about the conference you had
with their teacher. Schedule a follow-up conference if needed.
Schedule a follow-up conference if needed.
Slide 15
Results of Parental & Community Involvement The childrens
attendance rate increased due to parental involvement. Childrens
self esteem is better when their parents are involved in their
education. The children have higher graduation rates and the
children will be more likely to go to college.