Parents have quite a task on their hands. Many schools are trying to get parents more involved in their children's schools, while at the same time doing what they can to make parenting easier. The traditional PTA meeting has, in some schools, evolved into a real decision-making partnership. Teacher-training programs are now more likely to include training on collaboration with parents or understanding the varieties of modern family life. Schools serving low-income families in particular are realizing they need to make a concerted effort to help families become involved.
Some schools now offer parenting classes.
Of course, there is another side to parental involvement, too. Parents are increasingly demanding changes in the schools their children attend. Some parents have challenged schools to deliver better services by creating powerful parent networks, which lobby at school, district, or state levels. Overall, this is a particularly difficult time to improve parental involvement in education. Families in today's modern society are increasingly fragmented.