Teaching Research Spotlight

Parental Involvement in Education

NEA Teacher Quality and Research Departments provide this online venue highlighting professional research on best practices in educational issues.

"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." That's the conclusion of A New Wave of Evidence, a report from Southwest Educational Development Laboratory (2002). The report, a synthesis of research on parent involvement over the past decade, also found that, regardless of family income or background, students with involved parents are more likely to:

• Earn higher grades and test scores, and enroll in higher-level programs
• Be promoted, pass their classes, and earn credits
• Attend school regularly
• Have better social skills, show improved behavior, and adapt well to school
• Graduate and go on to postsecondary education (see A New Wave of Evidence, Southwest Educational Development Laboratory, 2002 - in references below).

The school plays an important role in determining the levels of parental involvement in school. Specifically, schools can outline their expectations of parents and regularly communicate with parents about what children are learning. Also, schools can provide opportunities for parents to talk with school personnel about parents' role in their children's education through home visits, family nights, and well-planned parent-teacher conferences and open houses. In addition, the National PTA recommends that parent/family involvement programs welcome parents as volunteer partners in schools and that these programs invite parents to act as full partners in making school decisions that affect children and families.

When parents talk to their children about school, expect them to do well, make sure that out-of-school activities are constructive, and help them plan for college, their children perform better in school.

When schools engage families in ways that improve learning and support parent involvement at home and school, students make greater gains. When schools build partnerships with families that respond to parent concerns, honor their contributions, and share decision-making responsibilities, they are able to sustain connections that are aimed at improving student achievement.

Here are some related articles and research on parental involvement:

» Parent Involvement - Current research on parent involvement and the outcomes. (National Middle School Association, 2006)

» Parent Involvement in Education - Research brief addressing such questions as Is parent involvement a valuable resource for schools struggling to provide state-of-the-art instruction with diminishing funds? Does it instill pride and interest in schooling? K. Cotton & K. R. Wikelund (Northwest Regional Education Lab, 2001).

» National Standards for Parent/Family Involvement Programs  - Standards for effective parent and family involvement programs including activities addressed by six standards. (PTA, 1997)

» What Research Says About Parent Involvement in Children's Education (, 252 KB, 4pp) - Highlights the relationship between parent involvement and academic achievement and references Joyce L. Epstein's six types of parent involvement. (Michigan Department of Education, 2002)

» A New Wave of Evidence: The Impact of School, Family, and Community Connections on Student Achievement (, 1.19 MB, 241pp) A. T. Henderson & K. L. Mapp. (Southwest Educational Development Laboratory, 2002)  Report Conclusion. (, 87 KB, 5pp)

» Summary of Research on Parent Engagement - Lists the benefits of parent engagement. The full report, A New Generation of Evidence: The Family is Critical to Student Achievement, covers 66 studies, reviews, reports, analyses, and books. Offers concrete reasons "why" and "how" educators should involve parents in their student's education. (Center for Law and Education, 1996)

See other Teaching Research Spotlights.
See other research information at NEA Research.

Have comments or suggestions? Please contact us.

Related Content

Getting Involved in Your Child's Education - NEA Web area focusing on help for parents.

Student Achievement - Parent resources on the PTA Web site.