According to research from the Southwest Educational Development Lab, “When school, families and community groups work together to support learning, children tend to do better in school, stay in school longer and like school more.”

Parents want to be involved in their child’s learning even if they aren’t often visible at Parent Teacher Association meetings. School and parents often have a different understanding of what that involvement should look like. Creating a partnership between schools and parents can have a significant impact on student achievement.

Academic achievement increases when parents are involved in their children’s education. The more intensively involved the parents are, the greater the positive impact on academic achievement.

Parental involvement leads to better classroom behavior and greater student achievement. A parent’s interest and encouragement in a child’s education can affect the child’s attitude toward school, classroom conduct, self-esteem, absenteeism and motivation. A child’s positive behavior and attitude about school is often a major factor in fewer suspensions for disciplinary reasons. They consistently complete homework, have better self-esteem, are more self disciplined and demonstrate higher motivation to do well in school.

Parents should stay involved in their children’s education from preschool through high school. Parental involvement can make a positive difference at all age levels. Parental involvement tends to be the greatest with young children and tapers off as children get older. Parental involvement in middle-school students is equally important. Parental encouragement can greatly influence whether a child stays in school or drops out. A child may consider going to college more seriously when parents show interest in the child’s academic achievements and discuss the benefits of a college education.

Schools can encourage parental involvement in many ways. Significant parental involvement is most likely to develop when schools actively seek out ways to get parents involved and offer training programs to teach parents how to get involved in their children’s education.

Parents please come and visit from noon to 4 p.m. at the Natchez-Adams School District Parent Centers located at 10 Homochitto St. Come out and learn about the resources we have to help parents support the academic achievement of their children.

 

Debra Allen is the parent center liaison for the Natchez-Adams School District.