School districts nationwide are being encouraged to demonstrate innovative parent involvement approaches in order to obtain Federal education dollars.
Parent involvement is currently a component of many school reform initiatives.
In areas where vouchers are provided, they can even select a private school for their children without the usual, and sometime prohibitive, family expenditure associated with a private education. The charter school movement enables parents to help create and manage a public school, giving them the opportunity to mold a customized education for their children that reflects their values and ideas. These exciting opportunities notwithstanding, many urban parents are still reticent to become involved in their children's school. A variety of factors interfere with their desire to help educate their children. Lack of English language skills, cultural differences, fears based on their own school experiences and feelings of inferiority, and simply an overburdened life that results from poverty and community social disorganization, all combine to keep parents distant from schools.