Children do best when their families can be involved in their learning in four important ways:

  1. As teachers. Families create homes that promote learning, reinforce what is being taught at school and build the values and skills children need to become responsible adults.
  2. As supporters. Parents give their knowledge and skills to the school, such as tutoring children and coaching teams; helping out in the classroom, library, office, or lunchroom; and arranging field trips.
  3. As advocates. Parents help children get fair treatment and all the opportunities they can at school and work to make the system serve all kids better.
  4. As decision-makers. Parents serve on advisory councils, committees and planning and management teams and help to solve problems of all kinds.

Source: Anne T. Henderson, "Families and Student Achievement" PTA Today, March/April 1995. For more information on how parent involvement increases student success, refer to "A New Generation of Evidence: The Family is Critical to Student Achievement" edited by Anne T. Henderson and Nancy Berla. Contact the Center for Law and Education.