Research shows that when a parent is involved in his or her child’s education the student is more likely to stay in school and value education. However, not all parents know that their involvement is a key factor in their children’s success. Many parents are unaware of how to be involved with their children’s education, especially in low-income schools where parent education levels are low and resources are scarce. Many parents are only engaged in those initiatives that have little to no impact on student academic achievement because of their level of comfort in dealing with schools and the lack of support from schools. There are many additional factors that determine purposeful parental involvement, but consider your school’s focus. Is it truly about engaging, educating, and empowering parents, or does getting as many parents as possible to attend school events define success?

Success for All tools help teachers establish productive relationships with students and their families. The parent amd family involvement team, established as part of the Success Network, sets realistic expectations for reaching families, educating them on what is going on at the school, and creating opportunities to build partnerships to support learning.