There is ample latitude in how policies are put into practice. Few opportunities for wide-scale parental decision making exist within many schools. Most communications sent home from schools do not provide individualized information for parents about their children.
Schools are least likely to have policies for training teachers to work with families.
Many schools develop their own parent involvement programs rather than implementing existing programs. There is widespread consensus that parent involvement is a key component for the school success of America's children. Based on this widely held belief, policies are currently being enacted to promote and increase parent involvement at all levels of schooling. For such policies to be successful, district superintendents will need to provide vision, leadership, and sometimes pressure. It is surprising, therefore, that little is known about district level policies and practices to promote and support parent involvement.