We know that when our children see that we believe their education is important, they do better in school. Depending on whom you ask, the response is likely to be different. To some parents it is asking their child what they learned in school today, while others say it is when they go to the school and talk about how the school can reflect their child's home culture in the building. A teacher might respond to the question that it is when a parent or community member comes and works with kids needing extra help with reading. While there is a lack of consensus on what kinds of activities describe family involvement, there is overwhelming agreement that parental and community involvement in education positively impacts children's educational outcomes.
Many schools send home lists of areas where parents can volunteer.
Some schools offer opportunities in the evenings for families to come together to participate in programs devoted to math, science, and other areas in which families can learn together, and parents can also share expertise and knowledge in those areas. Certainly not all children have parents or family members who can go to the school to participate in activities there. We know barriers to participation come from within both the family and the school. The greater correlation is between student achievement and parents encouraging homework by creating a supportive environment, but the greatest forecaster is parental expectations for the success of their children. Children will rise to the expectations of important adults in their lives.