Urban Parent Involvement in Education: Helping to Close the Achievement Gap

Urban Parent Involvement in Education: Helping to Close the Achievement Gap

The Quality of Education

In the last dozen years we’ve seen increasing concern about the quality of education in America. States have formulated high academic standards and implemented procedures for measuring students’ academic improvement. Improving the quality of teaching has been addressed by requiring more education and credentials to be earned by those studying to become teachers. States and the federal government have, in general, improved funding for education. And, parent involvement in education has become a valuable resource and a way to install pride in education, increase student test scores, and build a sense of community.

Research on Parental Involvement in Education

Research studies have shown that parent involvement in education has a positive effect on academic achievement. This is true for all kinds of parent involvement and for all students, regardless of age, race, or ethnic background. Research also shows that the earlier in the educational process parent involvement begins, the more positive effects occur. But, what about minority students or those from poor families? Do the positive effects of parental involvement hold for students who are educationally disadvantaged?

Parents of disadvantaged and minority children do make a positive contribution to their children's achievement in school, especially if they receive training and encouragement in parental involvement activities. The school must take pains to view parents as partners in education. Far too often, school personnel view parents as disinterested and having little to offer, which studies have shown is not true. Such attitudes prevent the establishment of a good working relationship between parents and the school.

Other studies have shown that minority or low income parents are often underrepresented among parents involved in education. This is due to many factors, including: long work hours, danger on the streets, shyness, reluctance to deal with “the system” and a perception of not being part of it, poor English skills, worry about the parent’s own level of education, lack of understanding of the educational process, differences in conversational styles and vocabulary, perceived lack of welcome and respect (or racism) at the school, children’s discouragement of parental attendance at meetings, differences in race, income, and culture, and cultural expectations against “selling out.”

Many parents perceive the school as representing the values and interests of white America and not the needs of low-income minorities. Parents sometimes develop a "We-Them" attitude, similar to the attitude of many teachers. Often parents perceive the school to be unwelcoming, even hostile, and interaction to be difficult and degrading. Some parents believe that teachers unfairly blame their children for problems at school because they live in public housing and struggle to survive.

Fostering Parental Involvement in Education

There are so many barriers and misunderstandings between schools and parents due to differences in race, ethnicity, culture, and language that parents become sensitive to whether teachers respect and appreciate their children. Teachers' ability to show kindness and respect for children is essential to obtain family support and involvement.

Other vital factors in obtaining parental involvement in education include: training teachers to understand and respect the ethnicities, cultures, beliefs, and values of students and their parents, attending face to face social interactions with families in and outside of school, use of similar language styles, use of translators if needed, creation of a plan to welcome parents into the school, parent training, and incorporating students’ cultures, beliefs, and traditions into the curriculum.

Ten Things Parents Can Do To Get Involved in Education

1. Keep in close communication with school staff and teachers from the time your child is in kindergarten through high school graduation. Never give up and opt out of school involvement – no matter what!
A. Attend student conferences and school events.
B. Return phone calls from the school.
C. Read notes and flyers sent home with your child.
D. Sign and return notes, report cards, and other written communications from the school.
E. Bring a translator to meetings and conferences if you need one.
F. Bring a friend with you to the school if you need moral support.

2. Educate yourself about your child’s rights to a free and appropriate education, including specialized academic help if needed. The information is available on the internet or at your local library.

3. Require your child to complete homework and monitor it carefully.
A. Provide encouragement, an appropriate space to work in, and insist on daily study time.
B. Limit TV viewing, computer and game use, and time on the phone or outside the home.
C. Get tutoring for your child when needed.

4. Establish a family that is stable and caring, not chaotic or neglectful.
A. Children should always be the family’s top priority, even though the need to make a living may reduce the amount of time you spend with them.
B. Parents must avoid drugs, drinking, crime, and erratic or immature behavior.
C. Call on grandparents and other extended family members to help.
D. Request social services help to obtain food or shelter if needed.
E. Express your love for your children daily.

5. Provide learning activities for your children starting in infancy. More than 80% of everything a child learns is learned at home!
A. Make sure your child learns responsibility and love of learning and family.
B. Participate in free learning activities, for example, visiting the library, museums, parks, joining a Scout troop or Boys’ and Girls’ Club, attending church services and events, watching educational TV programs, participating in community events, playing on a sport’s team, etc. Read to your child for 20 minutes every day from the time he or she is six months old until he or she can read by him or herself.

6. Be a good role model. Children learn what they observe at home; make sure you role model: responsibility, hard work, respect for law, yourself and others, love of family, appreciation of education, kindness, caring, and patience.

7. Establish fair, but firm, discipline in the home.
A. Set reasonable rules for behavior based on your child’s age and your values and beliefs.
B. Establish consequences for breaking rules and apply them consistently. Never hit, scream at, or ridicule your children.
C. Use praise and rewards when children obey the rules and act responsibly.
D. Do whatever you have to do to keep your child away from drugs, liquor, gangs, and crime.

8. Reduce transience. Try to move as little as possible so your children can remain in a stable educational setting and you can get to know the school staff and teachers.

9. Offer classroom help, help with school activities, go on field trips, and join the PTA. (Even if you think it’s unwelcoming or racist.)

10. Become involved in school governance. Help with making decisions at the school.