Family involvement can take many forms. Schools, for example, can help families support children as students by suggesting ways to support learning at home and providing programs to help families with health, nutrition, or other concerns. They also can help parents improve their own education through GED or family literacy programs. Parents can get more involved with children's schoolwork at home, volunteer at the school, and participate in making critical school decisions. Teachers can show families how to help students with homework and other curriculum-related activities.
Many teachers do so with family math, science, and reading activities at school.
Together, schools and parents can improve school-home communications about children's progress and school programs. Alliance Schools have achieved impressive results in impoverished schools by working with parents and focusing on academic achievement. Under the Alliance model, parents become equal partners with teachers, principals, and district administrators to help make decisions about their schools. Teachers gain new flexibility to pursue effective teaching methods, curriculum, and assessment strategies. In Ysleta Elementary School in El Paso, an Alliance-driven leadership team of parents, teachers, administrators, and community leaders has expanded parental involvement to improve student achievement.