Strong Families, Strong Schools

Family Involvement in Children's Education

This Dept. of Education report looks at successful local approaches to parental involvement. The report states that if families are to work with schools as partners in the education of their children, schools must provide them with the opportunities and support they need to become involved.

Developing effective partnerships with families requires that all school staff (administrators, teachers, and support staff) create a school environment that welcomes parents and encourages them to raise questions and voice their concerns as well as to participate appropriately in decision making. Developing partnerships also requires that school staff provide parents with the information and training they need to become involved and that they reach out to parents with invitations to participate in their children's learning.

The National Parenting Center

The National Parenting Center provides comprehensive parenting advice to parents everywhere. The advice provided is furnished by some of the world's most respected authorities in the field of child rearing and development. Advice is broken out by the age of the child.

PTA

The national PTA has issued parent involvement standards in schools. These could be incorporated into school handbooks.

National Association for Education of Young Children

The National Association for the Education of Young Children's publications offer good advice about the interface between the home and school, especially for parents new to schools with very young children.

Great Grandparents!

Great Grandparents! has suggestions to help grandparents build a strong, long-lasting relationship with their grandchildren, whether they live near or far. Seems to be good advice for all of us to follow.