Parent Involvement

and

Your Child’s Education

Parent Involvement

What is the best way for a parent to insure their child gets the most out of the public education system, regardless of whether your child is in special education or not? What is the number one way to help your special needs child and their typical general education siblings succeed at school?

 Get involved                        

You. The parent. Get involved. It is just that simple.

Here are some stats on parent involvement, because I know everyone is really impressed by numbers and percentages!

• 86% of the general public believes that parent involvement is the most important method of improving our schools.

• Family participation in education doubled the chances of students’ academic success over other major factors such as family socioeconomic status. Some of the more intensive programs had effects that were 10 times greater than other factors.

• The lack of parental involvement is the single biggest problem facing our schools today.

• Research, compiled over decades, has shown the effects of parental involvement on students as:
• Higher test scores, overall grades, and higher graduation rates
• Better school attendance
• Higher levels of motivation
• Improved student self-esteem
• Lower numbers of suspensions
• Improved behavior (lower office referrals)
• Lower number of students involved with drugs and alcohol
• Decreased levels of violent incidents, gang involvement, expulsion rates

• The greater the level of intensity that parents were involved, the greater the benefits to the students.

 
Wow! You had no idea the influence you have over the kids at school, did you? I know it was a shock to me. I was thinking (at least after reading a bunch of government studies, the No Child Left Behind legislation and such) that the number one factor would be socioeconomic status (you know that puts you “at risk”) or something, but then think about it. Who has had the mostinfluence over your child since they were babies? Who is ultimately responsible for the child? Oh yes, that’s right. It is you. What kind of influence do you have?

How Parents Influence Educational Outcome

It is well documented that when the parent sets a higher standard for their child, and the expectation for achievement is higher, the child will consistently have higher academic success than the children of parents with lower expectations and standards.

 
If you, as the parent don’t expect much out of your child, well, that is exactly what you are going to get. Not much.

Your beliefs about the value of education and what is important and what is permitted are reflected in your children at school and in life. If you don’t believe it is important, and you don’t show them that something is important, they won’t either.

How to Get Involved

1. Be a role model for your child. Show them that you are interested in and value their school attendance. Attend school activities, make opportunities to meet and talk with their teachers and other school staff. Discuss school with your child and encourage positive attitude toward learning.
2. Parents, who read to their children, have books available, take trips, guide TV watching, and provide stimulating experiences contribute significantly to student achievement, literacy, and a better educational experience for their child.
3. Establish a daily routine and structure for your child. Set specific time and provide a quiet place to do homework. Set appropriate times for bedtime and wake up time as well. Assign responsibility for household jobs, establish rules for TV, electronic games, and computer time.
4. Encourage proper health through good nutrition, plenty of exercise, enough sleep, and allowing time for family recreation. Teach your children to naturally reduce stress through their daily activities.
5. Monitor what your kids do outside of school. Set rules and guidelines and be sure to check on them if they are old enough to be home alone after school.
6. Set high, but realistic expectations for achievement. Discuss your values and what you expect with your kids. Make sure you know they are being challenged, but not overwhelmed.
7. Encourage your child to do well at school. Show interest in what they are doing and learning at school. Discuss the importance of a good education, developing good habits, careers that they may interest them.
8. Keep an open channel of communication with the school. Don’t wait for report cards and parent-teacher conferences to find out how things are going at school! This is especially important for children with disabilities, but applies to everyone.
9. Encourage reading, writing, and discussion at home. Start by reading to your children, then continue reading with your children. Read and discuss. Talk about things they learned at school, current events, etc. Find opportunities to teach and discuss.

Influence Your Kids 

You can have such a big impact on the success of your child in school. The earlier you start; the better, but I can tell you that NOW is the best time of all. Get involved. Make a pan of brownies (or cookies – cupcakes! Fruit basket?) and take it to the school. You would not believe how well that little gesture will open doors! Works great for IEP meetings, too. Volunteer. Go on a field trip with the class. 

 
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