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Parental involvement in schools improves student learning. Parental involvement is a critical link to higher grades, positive attitudes and behaviors, and more effective schools. When schools works together with parents to support learning, children are inclined to succeed not just in school but also throughout life. Such participation of parents is critical throughout students’ educational careers. Parents benefit as well. They develop a greater appreciation of their role in their children's education, improved their sense of self worth, and even stimulate the desire to continue their own education. They also come to understand more about their children’s teachers and their teaching methods. Finally, because of their ongoing relationships with students, schools play a key role in encouraging and supporting efforts by parents to take a more active role in their children’s education. Few people will argue that parent involvement in education is significant. However, forty percent of parents believe they are not devoting enough time to their children's education. First, parents must make a connection between home and school. At home, parents must be supportive of their children’s schools and the educational process. Your attitude about school will affect how your child feels. Parents must speak positively about their child’s teachers, counselors, and the benefits of education. To achieve academic success, parents can emphasize good work habits, set high but reasonable expectations for their children, stay informed about their children's progress, and monitor their children's activities. There are three factors over which parents can exercise their authority: student absenteeism, reading materials in the home, and excessive television watching. This accounts for nearly 90 percent of the difference in test scores. In other words, most of the differences in achievement can be attributed to home practices. This means that families can improve their children's achievement in school by making sure their children attend school regularly, encouraging their children to read at home regularly, and turning off the TV. In addition, parents should use the home environment to foster good study skills, complete homework before play, and to offer praise for good work. Parents should not use this time to complete their children’s homework. Instead they should use community resources such as the library or church workshops where they may offer tutors or study aides.
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