The National Association of School Psychologists is committed to increasing the academic, behavioral and social competence of all students through effective home-school partnerships. Such partnerships involve collaboration among families, educators and community members to support students' educational and mental health needs. Benefits of Collaboration When families are involved in education, there are significant benefits for students, educators, and families. Students demonstrate more positive attitudes toward school and learning, higher achievement and test scores, increased homework completion, and improved school attendance. Teachers report greater job satisfaction and higher evaluation ratings from parents and administrators.
Parents experience better understanding of schools and improved communication with their children.
Although it cannot be shown that family participation causes these benefits, these positive outcomes have been documented across families from diverse ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds. Challenges of Collaboration Despite these many benefits, family-school collaboration is very difficult to attain. Families and educators often differ in their expectations, goals, and communication patterns, sometimes leading to frustration and misunderstanding among students, families and educators. When these differences are not recognized and addressed, a lack of communication between home and school further divides and separates the two most vital support systems available to the student. Open communication is essential in order for educators and families to understand and respect each other's perspectives.