Evidence Shows Parents Matter in their Children's Education


What Does the Research Say?

Students from families with above-median parental involvement showed success rates 30% higher than those from families with below-median parental involvement, as measured by GPAs; test scores in math, science, reading, and social studies; and promotion, retention and teacher ratings.

Fan, Xitao, and Chen, Michael, Parental Involvement
and Student's Academic Achievement: A Meta-Analysis,
National Science Foundation; National Center for
Education Statistics, 1999, as summarized here.

Home learning activities such as reading aloud and frequent open family discussions, are associated with improved student achievement.

Epstein, J.L. (1991) Effects on Student Achievement of
Teacher Practices of Parent Involvement.
In S. Silvern (ed.) Advances in Reading/Language Research, Vol. 5.
Literacy Through Family, Community and School Interaction.
Greenwich, CT: JAI Press, as summarized here

AND...

It has long been recognized that parent involvement positively impacts children’s performance in school. A New Wave of Evidence: The Impact of School, Family and Community Connections on Student Achievement clearly documents the facts.

  • When parents talk to their children about school, expect them to do well, help them plan for college, and make sure that out-of-school activities are constructive; their children do better in school.
  • When schools engage families in ways that are linked to improving learning, students make greater gains.
  • When schools build partnerships with families that respond to their concerns and honor their contributions, they are successful in sustaining connections that are aimed at improving school achievement.
  • When families and communities organize to hold poorly performing schools accountable, studies suggest that school districts make positive changes in policy, practice and resources.

(Henderson and Mapp, 2002)

Did you know...?

  • Parent/family involvement at home has a more significant impact on children than parent/family involvement in school activities.
    TIP: think about what you are doing -- and what more you can do -- to help your child with learning at home.
  • The nature of parent/family involvement that is most beneficial to children changes as they reach adolescence.
    TIP: contact the school to learn about resources available for planning for your child’s life after high school.
  • Effective programs assist parents in learning how to create a home environment that fosters learning and how to provide support and encouragement for their children’s success.
    TIP: think about what you need to know about the curriculum and school/teacher expectations for your child's learning outside of school.
  • Teachers must be trained to promote effective parent/family involvement in children’s education.  
    TIP:  Ask about your school's programs to promote parental involvement. If your child attends a Title I school, ask to see the written Paren Involvement Policy and the Parent-School Compact.

Carter, S. (2002). The Impact of Parent/Family Involvement on Student Outcomes:
An Annotated Bibliography of the Research from the Past Decade

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