What is Parent Involvement?

The word parent is used to refer to all those who are involved in a child's education because National PTA recognizes that today other adults such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, stepparents, and guardians may also carry the primary responsibility for a child's education and development. 

All references to parent include any adult who plays an important role in a child's upbringing and well-being.

The term parent involvement has the following definition:

Parent involvement is the participation of parents in every facet of children's education and development from birth to adulthood, recognizing that parents are the primary influence in children's lives. 

How Parents Make the Difference

Study after study indicates that parent involvement increases student achievement. "The evidence is now beyond dispute. When schools work together with families to support learning, children tend to succeed not just in school, but throughout life. The form of parent involvement chosen is not as critical to the success of children as the fact that it be reasonably well-planned, comprehensive, and long-lasting." (Anne T. Henderson & Nancy Berla, "The Family is Critical to Student Achievement," 1994)

Teachers in schools where parents are actively involved find that their jobs become easier. Working in partnership with students and parents creates an environment of trust, positive interactions, and optimism for what can be 
accomplished. Having the support of parents relieves considerable stress for teachers who often feel they are struggling alone to improve children's achievement. Effective parent involvement programs can prevent burnout and the loss of hardworking, dedicated teachers.

Parent involvement takes many forms, including:

There are several fundamental beliefs that underlie any successful parent involvement program:

Click here for 100 ways parents can be involved in their child's education!

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