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Parental involvement has been a top priority for school leaders for decades, and research shows that it can make a major difference in student outcomes.

Policies that have passed in a number of individual school districts, states, and the U.S. House have spelled out parents' rights to inspect curriculum materials and withdraw their children from lessons they deem objectionable; restricted teaching about race, gender identity, and sexuality; and resulted in the removal of books from school libraries, including many with LGBTQ+ characters and protagonists of color.

And that's a good thing, he said.

"The parents' rights bills in and of themselves, I wouldn't suggest are entirely focused on best practice family engagement," said Borrello, whose group works to advance effective family, school, and community engagement policies and practices. "However, what the parents' rights bills have done is elevated the important role that parents have in their child's education."

For decades, research from around the world has shown that parents' involvement in and engagement with their child's education-including through parent-teacher conferences, parent-teacher organizations, school events, and at-home discussions about school-can lead to higher student achievement and better social-emotional outcomes.

Here are five takeaways from the research.

1. Studies show more parental involvement leads to improved academic outcomes

"When parents become involved at school by, for example, attending events such as open houses or volunteering in the classroom, they build social networks that can provide useful information, connections to school personnel (e.g., teachers), or strategies for enhancing children's achievement," the APA research review said. "In turn, parents with heightened social capital are better equipped to support their children in succeeding in school as they are able to call on resources (e.g., asking a teacher to spend extra time helping their children) and utilize information they have gathered (e.g., knowing when and how their children should complete their homework)."

2. Parent involvement changes social-emotional outcomes, too

The APA study showed that not only does parental involvement lead to improved academic outcomes, but it also has a positive impact on students' social and emotional skills and decreases instances of delinquency.

That finding also applies internationally.

And when parents visit their children's school, that contributes to a sense of safety among the students, ultimately improving school engagement, the study said. Although conducted in Jordan, the study provides insight into how parental involvement affects students' social-emotional development in other countries, including the United States.

Parent involvement also gives teachers the tools to better support their students, Borrello said.

"When teachers understand what their students are going through personally and at home and any challenges they may have, then that improves their teaching," he said. "They're able to support their student in ways they wouldn't be able to otherwise."

3. Not all parental involvement is created equal

Different levels and types of parent involvement led to varying outcomes for students, according to the American Psychological Association study.

For example, school-based involvement, such as participation in parent-teacher conferences, open houses, and other school events, had a positive impact on academics in preschool, middle school, and high school, but the size of the impact was much lower in high school than in preschool. That may be because parents have fewer opportunities to be involved in the high school environment than in younger students' classrooms where parents might volunteer.

At-home discussions and encouragement surrounding school also have a positive impact on students' academic achievement at all developmental stages, with that type of parent involvement being most effective for high schoolers, according to the study. Reading with children and taking them to the library have a positive impact as well.

But one common form of parental involvement, helping kids with their homework, was shown to have little impact on students' academic achievement.

In fact, homework help had a small negative impact on student achievement, but positive impacts on student motivation and engagement in school, according to the APA study.

The research shows the value of encouraging parents to be involved in their student's learning at home, and not just attending school events, Borrello said.

"In the past, schools either had an event that wasn't connected to learning or only measured the engagement of a family based on how often they came to the school," he said. "What families are doing to create an environment of learning and supporting learning at home, is probably even more important than how many times they're coming to school."

4. Results of parent involvement don't discriminate based on race or socioeconomics

Research has shown a consensus that family and parent involvement in schools leads to better outcomes regardless of a family's ethnic background or socioeconomic status.

Parent involvement has led to higher academic outcomes both for children from low and higher socioeconomic status families.

When comparing the impact of parent involvement on students of different races and ethnicities, the APA found that school-based involvement had a positive impact on academics among Black, Asian, white, and Hispanic children, with a stronger impact on Black and white families than families from other demographics. The finding also extended internationally, with similar effects on children outside of the United States.

5. Schools can encourage parent involvement in person and at home

Parent involvement doesn't have to end with parent-teacher conferences. There are many ways for schools to encourage parents to be more involved both in school and at home, Borrello said.

The best way to start, he said, is by creating a school culture that is welcoming to families.

"That starts with the principal, and that starts with school leadership that is welcoming to families, from how they're engaging parents in the classroom to what policies they have in schools to welcome families," Borrello said.

Parent gathering spaces or rooms in school buildings, scheduled parent engagement meetings and office hours, and at-school events held outside of the school day are all good places to start, Borrello said. From there, schools can work to include parents in more decision-making, give parents resources to support learning at home, and equip teachers with the tools to engage and connect with parents.

"If the school is not welcoming and families don't feel welcome at the school, then you're not going to get them to come to school no matter what you do," Borrello said. "Then it's really thinking about who you're creating those relationships with families so that they can be heard."

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Does Parent Involvement Really Help Students? Here's What the Research Says

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Parent involvement can lead to improved student outcomes, research shows, but some forms are more helpful than others.

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The Importance of Research on Family Engagement

Research has shown that meaningful family engagement positively impacts youth outcomes across various domains. Parental involvement in education has been extensively studied for decades with less attention paid to the degree of involvement in other systems. More recently, studies have focused on the purpose and roles of family engagement across key child and youth serving sectors. Advancements in brain science, the use of precise research methods, and the inclusivity of diverse populations are influencing family engagement strategies in education, child welfare, juvenile justice, health, mental health, and behavioral health systems.

Studies have shed light on the vital roles and functions that families of all backgrounds can perform to support their children's and youth's development and success. Ongoing research is essential in advancing the implementation, continuous improvement and adoption of family engagement practices. These practices can make a difference in the lives of children and youth across various service systems, and for diverse populations and communities. Studies show that strong family engagement is a necessary component in improving outcomes for children and youth.

Youth and Family Outcomes

Family engagement in schools contributes to positive student outcomes, including improved child and student achievement, decreased disciplinary issues, improved parent-teacher and teacher-student relationships, and improved school environment.

Family engagement with health care professionals improves care coordination and health outcomes at the individual, youth, and family level.

Most families, when adequately supported and engaged, can work in full partnership with juvenile justice system professionals to achieve better outcomes for youth.

Children and youth served by mental health system of care providers show increases in emotional and behavioral strengths and improved relationships with peers and adults when families are engaged.

A comprehensive review of the literature on family engagement in early childhood found that all families from diverse socioeconomic, educational and racial/ethnic backgrounds were interested in their child's educational success and could effectively support their child's learning at home and school when provided with the information and guidance that they needed.

Parent involvement leads to positive benefits for students, parents, and schools, including improved academic performance and improved parent-teacher relationships. Students whose parents were involved in school during their elementary years experienced lower rates of high school dropout, were more likely to complete high school on time, and had higher grades.

Recent experimental research has documented how two-way teacher-parent communication can lead to greater parental involvement, improved student engagement and academic achievement.

Youth engage in fewer health risk behaviors when their parents are actively involved in their lives. These health risk behaviors include cigarette smoking, drinking alcohol, becoming pregnant, becoming sexually active, and carrying weapons.

In addition to avoiding health risk behaviors, family engagement can increase participation in positive health behaviors such as school-related physical activity and improved educational achievement, including increased attendance and higher grades and test scores.,,

When child welfare staff involves families in the decision-making process and in developing the plans that affect them and their children, they are more invested in the plans and committed to achieving objectives and complying with treatment.

Parental involvement improves timeliness of child welfare permanency decisions and can lead to quicker reunification.,

Families that actively support youth involved in juvenile justice help reinforce the importance of treatment, articulate and advocate for their child's needs, and increase the probability of a smooth transition home at the end of an out-of-home placement.21

Involving families in strength-based decision-making processes and modeling appropriate problem-solving approaches increases families' comfort with communicating their own problem-solving strategies and exploring new strategies that may benefit themselves and their children.

Working collaboratively increases the likelihood of identifying a family's unique needs and developing relevant and culturally-appropriate service plans that address needs, build on family strengths, draw from community supports, and use resources more effectively.

Resources
Adolescent Connectedness Has Lasting Effects
This webpage from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention presents findings that support that adolescent connectedness to school and family is an important protective factor in promoting positive lasting effects.

References

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Research has shown that meaningful family engagement positively impacts youth outcomes across various domains. Parental involvement in education has been extensively studied for decades with less attention paid to the degree of involvement in other systems. More recently, studies have focused on the purpose and roles of family engagement across key child and youth serving sectors.

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How Parent Involvement Leads to Student Success - Waterford.org

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Learn how you can improve family involvement in your schools, and the significant impact it can have on academic achievement and student success.

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Report - The Positive Relationship Between Family Involvement and Student Success

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When families are involved in their children’s learning both at home and at school, their children do better in school. The report also points to specific types of involvement as being especially beneficial to children’s academic success.