Parent Partners: Using Parents to Enhance Education

Author: Fager, J. and Brewster, C.
Publisher: Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory
Publication Date: 1999, March
Publication City: Portland
Publication State: OR
Full text available online at: http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/detail?accno=ED431845

Abstract (written by WestEd)

The authors examine the current state of parent involvement in schools, taking into account recent research and considering different types of parent involvement, and also look at successful implementation and pitfalls of parent-involvement programs. Six types of parent involvement are identified: parenting, communicating, volunteering, learning at home, decision-making, and collaborating with community.

Benefits to students, parents, and schools are discussed. Other research findings guide recommendations for planning, training teachers, and implementing and managing successful parent involvement programs in schools. Tips are also given for best utilizing parents and for dealing with difficult parents.

The authors identify key findings of recent research on parent involvement that include the following:

• The most effective parent involvement is parents working on learning activities with their children at home.
  
• There is a significant relationship between fathers' involvement in their children's education and student achievement and behavior.
  
• Teacher practices matter more in getting parents involved in their children's education than the parents' education, marital status, or work place.
  
• Parent involvement is higher when schools truly welcome parents and maintain school discipline, and when teachers and students respect one another.
  
• Teacher training is essential to parent involvement.

********************************************************************
Bo De Long-Cotty, Senior Program Associate at WestEd RTEC, says this book is a "practical, research-based look at why and how to involve parents in the change process to help ensure success for all."