Parent Involvement and Academic Achievement Susan Campbell & Sharon Glasgow EDU 702.22 Fall 2009

Table of Contents Introduction Statement of the Problem Review of Literature Statement of the Hypothesis

Introduction Research indicates that there are positive academic outcomes stemming from parental involvement with benefits beginning in early childhood throughout adolescence and beyond (Henderson & Mapp, 2002; Patrikakou, Weisberg, Redding, & Walberg, 2005). Overwhelmingly, all the research indicate that parent involvement has a positive impact on student achievement.

Statement of the Problem As children move up in grades, parent involvement wanes. This research project will attempt to prove that increasing parent involvement will improve children’s academic achievement.

Review of Literature It is a well-established fact that parental involvement is linked to children’s success at school. When parents are involved in their children’s education at home, they do better in school. (Henderson and Berla, 1994) A parent’s interest in their child’s work at home or at school allows the child to establish a value on his/her education

Review of Literature (continued) Parent involvement is a valuable component of any student’s education. The level of parent–school involvement is a better predictor of grades than are standardized test scores. (Desimone, 1999).

Review of Literature (continued) The 12 years of 180 six-hour days spent in school add up to only 13 % of a student’s waking, learning time during the first 18 years of life. The rest, 87% is spent out of school, primarily at home. (Walberg)

Pros Epstein’s Framework of Six Types of Involvement: parenting, communicating, volunteering, learning at home, decision making and collaborating with community.

Cons Conventional avenues for involving parents in school can be closed to parents due to specific cultural knowledge. Schools do not involve parents in the decision making and are content with their participation in PTA and school curriculum meetings

Hypotheses HR-1 Through this research, we will provide evidence to prove that parental involvement in a child’s academic life will have a positive improvement on that child’s grades and overall performance in school. HR-2 Two 6th Grade classes of 25 students in a Brooklyn public school will be assessed. Learning is a family affair, if parent’s are not interested in their child’s school, the child will also not be interested in their personal achievement.

Reading Changes Lives Reading to your child builds parent child bonds and improves the child’s vocabulary thus closing the achievement gap between the different socioeconomic groups.

References Henderson, A. T., & Mapp, K. L. (2002). A new wave of evidence. Austin, TX: National Center for Family and Community Connections with Schools. Patrikakou, E. N., Weissberg, R. P., Redding, S., & Walberg, H. J. (Eds.). (2005). School-family partnerships: Fostering children’s school success. New York: Teachers College Press. Henderson, A. T., & Berla, N. (1994). A new generation of evidence: The family is critical to student achievement. St Louis, MO: Danforth Foundation and Flint. Carey, N., Lewis, L., Farris, E., & Westat, I. (1998). Parent Involvement in Children's Education: Efforts by Public Elementary Schools. National Center for Education Statistics Statistical Analysis Report. http://search.ebscohost.com

References Desimone, L. (1999). Linking Parent Involvement with Student Achievement: Do Race and Income Matter? Hoover-Dempsey, K. & Walker, J. (2005). Why Do Parents Become Involved? Research Findings and Implications. Wearmouth, J. (2004). Issues in Addressing Children’s Difficulties in Literacy Development through Family-School Partnerships. Yap, 0. K. & Enoki, D. (2007). In Search of the Elusive Magic Bullet: Parental Involvement and Student Outcomes, Perceptions of Parent Involvement in Academic Achievement. Fang, W., & Sen Q. (2006). Longitudinal Effects of Parenting on Children's Academic Achievement in African American Families

References Hill, N., and Tyson, D., (2009) Parental Involvement in Middle School: A Meta-Analytic Assessment of the Strategies That Promote Achievement Padgett, R., Best Ways to Involve Parents Patrikakou, E., The Power of Parent Involvement: Evidence, Ideas and Tools for Student Success Battle-Bailey, L., (2004). Interactive homework for increasing parent involvement and student reading achievement. Eldridge, D., (2001). Parent involvement: It's worth the effort. Young children. Epstein, J., (2005). A case study of the partnership schools Comprehensive School Reform Hawes, C., (2005). Parental involvement and its influence on reading achievement of 6th grade students. Pena, D., (2000). Parent involvement: Influencing factors and implications Zellman, G., & Waterman, J., (1998). Understanding the impact of parent school involvement on children's educational outcomes