Key Idea Personal relationships between parents and school staff are essential to meaningful parent involvement.

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Three practices that impact student achievement

1. Meeting every family face-to-face
2. Sending home learning materials for parents to use with children
3. Staying in touch with families monthly

Strategies for SEAs:

• Provide research, such as the Westat study, to school and district staff.
• Provide examples of parent activities that are being used successfully in schools throughout the state.
• Provide sample schedules and activities for schools to use as a template.

Resources

All Your Parents - Part 3: Develop Relationships from the National Center for Family Literacy

Parent Involvement: When Mom and Dad Go to School from the National Center for Family Literacy

Ferguson, C. (2005). Reaching out to diverse populations: A strategy brief of the National Center for Family and Community Connections with Schools. Austin, TX: Southwest Educational Development Laboratory. Retrieved February 7, 2008, from www.sedl.org/connections/resources/rb/rb5-diverse.pdf

Moles, O. (Ed.). (1996). Ongoing communications. Reaching all families: Creating family-friendly schools. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education. Retrieved February 8, 2008, from www.ed.gov/pubs/ReachFam/oncom.html

Westat & Policy Studies Associates. (2001). The longitudinal evaluation of school change and performance in Title I schools, volume I. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education, Office of the Deputy Secretary, Planning and Evaluation Service. Retrieved May 28, 2008 from www.ed.gov/offices/OUS/PES/esed/lescp_highlights.html

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