Types & Benefits of Parental Involvement in Children's Education

The traditional images of an involved parent working with a child's school are those of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) member, the bake sale mom, and the parent who "helps out" in the school office, cafeteria, or classroom. Over time, however, the kinds of roles undertaken by parents of school-age children have evolved significantly; in many cases, parents play important roles in school decision-making, planning, and even service delivery (Sparks, 2005). This brief essay will examine the types and benefits of parental involvement in schooling and will argue that such involvement has the potential to improve school communities while also fostering improvements in student learning outcomes.

Parental involvement in schooling is now understood as referring to the roles of parents in educating their children at home and in school (Deslandes & Bertrand, 2005). Involvement can take different forms, including discussions about school, help with homework, and volunteering at school. A direct result of renewed interest in how parental involvement impacts upon student achievement and socialization is the creation of new roles for parents. As Shepard and Rose (1995) commented, empowerment of parents is a key element in this transformation; schools are creating numerous opportunities for parents to work alongside teachers and administrators in developing or choosing curriculum, delivering services (e.g., tutorin