# Presentation: 374743

## Fathers Matter!

**Involving Fathers in**
**Children’s Learning**
**A Kit for Educators and Other Professionals**

- U.S. Department of Education

## True

**False**

**In two-parent households, if mothers are not involved, their children do not achieve well.**

## True

**False**

**Nonresident fathers involved in their children’s schools have little impact on their children’s success in school.**

## True

**False**

**Fathers’ involvement is as critical to child development in the early years—for example, through reading—as it is in the later years—for example, through sports.**

## Family Involvement and Student Achievement

- The mutual benefits of family involvement

***Students gain***

***Schools gain***

- Higher grades
- Better attendance and homework completion
- More positive attitudes
- Higher graduation rates
- Higher college enrollment rates

- Improved teacher morale
- Higher ratings of teachers by parents
- More support from families
- Better reputations  in the community

**RESEARCH**

## Family Involvement and Student 

***Importance of Parents’ Involvement***
***to Student Success in School***

**Percent of Students K-12**

**Family Involvement and Student **
**Achievement Among Two-Parent Families**

**Students’ School Status**

**RESEARCH**

## Single Fathers’ Involvement and Student Achievement

***Importance of Fathers’ Involvement***
***to Student Success in School***

**Percent of Students K-12**

**Single Fathers’ Involvement ****and Student Achievement**

**Students’ School Status**

**RESEARCH**

## Non-Resident Fathers’ Involvement and Student Achievement

***Importance of Fathers’ Involvement***
***to Student Success in School***
** **

**Non-Resident Fathers’ Involvement ****and Student Achievement**

**Students’ School Status**

**RESEARCH**

## Involvement of Single Fathers in Their Children’s Education Across Grade Levels

**Percent**

**Involvement of Single Fathers in Their Children’s Education Across Grade Levels**

**,**

**RESEARCH**

## What People Say About Fathers’ Involvement

**A full 96 percent of adults believe that fathers need to be more involved in their children’s education.**
- Source:  National Center for Fathering
- Gallup Poll, 1992.

**OPINION**

## What Students Say About Fathers’ and Mothers’ Involvement

**About 70 percent of teens say their mothers are involved in what happens to them at school.  Only 62 percent say their fathers are involved in what happens to them at school.**
- Source: NCES, 1997

**OPINION**

## What Teachers Say About Fathers’ and Mothers’ Involvement

**Teachers say that the “single most important thing public schools need in order to help students learn” is involved parents.  Therefore, teachers and schools need to find ways to help families become involved.**
- Source: Henderson & Berla, 1994

**OPINION**

## Ways to Improve Family Involvement in Education

- Overcome time and resource constraints.
- Provide information and training to parents and school staff.
- Restructure schools to support family involvement.
- Bridge school-family differences.
- Tap external supports for partnerships.

## How Fathers Can Get Involved with their Children at Home

- Read to their children.
- Discuss the day’s events with their children.
- Help their children with homework and special projects.
- Limit television viewing time.
- Watch TV with their children and talk about program messages.

## How Schools Can Involve Fathers

**Make a special effort to include fathers in:**
- parent/teacher conferences,
- after-school and extracurricular activities,
- mentoring and tutoring activities.
**Keep fathers informed of their children’s progress and performance through ongoing contact, including newsletters, conferences, and telephone calls.**

## Parent/Family Involvement Practices

**Communicating—**Communication between home and school is regular, two-way, and meaningful.
**Parenting—**Parenting skills are promoted and supported.
**Student Learning—**Parents play an integral role in helping students learn.
**Volunteering—**Parents are welcome in the school and their support and assistance are sought.
**School Decision-Making and Advocacy—**Parents are full partners in the decisions that affect children and families.
**Collaborating with the Community—**Community resources are used to strengthen schools, families, and student learning.

***The National PTA Standards for Parent/******Family Involvement Programs***

## Information on 

**Fathers’ Involvement**

**Call 1-800-USA-LEARN or visit:**
**www.pfie.ed.gov**
**http://fatherhood.hhs.gov/**
**www.nces.ed.gov/pubs98/fathers/index.html**
**www.igc.org/fatherhood/**
**www.4fathers.com**
**www.fathers.com**
**www.fatherhood.org/index.html**