Parental Involvement Key to Academic Success

Article: Parental Involvement Key to Academic Success
Website: http://www.citizenlink.org/content/A000005696.cfm


I know that a couple of us wrote about FCAT testing and all the issues surrounding one of the articles Dr. Smith recommended. One of the points that cam up when Tricia and I were talking about the issue awhile back was that parents dd need to be involved. It is always said and researched but today in CitezenLink.com there was an article talking about parent involvement being key to a child's academic success.

The article states: "According to a study from the Center for Education Policy, what helps them the most is you! The research shows low-income kids in public schools do just as well as their peers in private schools as long as parents are involved."

One of the points that is made is that is should not be surprising that private schools get superior ratings, those who are in these schools are expected to go to college and usually have more parental involvement than student attending public schools.

Now, with that said, it is hard for me to imagine the parent of kids at my Job being involved. many of them may have made untimely decision with regard to having children, may not have an education, may have recently separated form a souse, or are in school bettering themselves. A lot of my parents do the best they can with what they have. Some fell that it is their own faults, but making bad choices is not against the law! I have some parents at my job who work 2-3 jobs and go to school, they are not able to be at their kids games or spend the weekends with them, but rely on the staff to help their kids academically and fill in that void.

I wonder if their is a way to help parents be involved with out them sacrificing work or school (both needed for them to better themselves or meet necessities). What responsibility do staff and teachers have to fill this void, if any? So many parents have different work schedules compared 30 years ago. It cost more to live and that equals less time with family. There are always exceptions and people that make it work, but for those who can't what can we do as a community to ensure they can be involved or that someone is?