How Can Schools Involve Parents More?

Research shows us that time and again, children's attitudes towards school, their achievement, attendance, motivation, self-concept, and behaviors are directly influenced by the attitudes of their parents towards learning and school. School staff need to reach out to families and community members so that they can be involved in identifying issues, assessing the needs of the community, and developing solutions so that we can better meet the needs and expectations of the community. When families and community members are involved in schools they have an opportunity to gain a greater understanding of the challenges and achievements of the education system. All educators share the responsibility of increasing the level of collaboration between families and the community. There are many ways, with varying degrees of responsibility and authority, that parents and community members can be involved in education. The type of involvement and level of responsibility varies depending on the needs of the community, wishes, ability and willingness of parents, families, and community members, values and resources.

There are many things that schools can do to make parents feel more comfortable and more involved in their child's school experience: In a welcoming school, families feel at home, comfortable, and a part of the school community. To feel "at home" suggests a sense that a person "belongs." Helping parents to become familiar with the school and the staff who work in it is essential is developing positive relations. Finding ways to create places within the school where parents and community members can feel comfortable and a part of a school community means that there are common interests, common goals, common values, and expectations of each community member. People feel they belong to a community when they can positively contribute to the good of the organization in different ways. Finding ways for parents to positively contribute is the start of welcoming them into the school community. In schools that honor families, the entire staff shares the belief that all families want their students to be successful in school, and recognize that family members are as concerned about student achievement as educators are. Schools that truly engage parents seek ways to ensure that they actively participate in their students' education in ways that match their own backgrounds, interests and skills. As a result, principals, teachers and staff all have an important role to unify the community. In my experience, bus drivers are the first point of contact in the morning - my favorite bus driver would always say in the morning "Make it a good day or not, the choice is yours!"