The following articles are written by parent educators, psychologists, counselors, teachers, school administrators, and other professional advocates for increasing parent involvement and building family-school-community partnerships.  To submit an article for publication, please see our submittal guidelines.

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Stress-free Report Cards
Author(s): Connie Hammer, MSW
This article calls attention to the academic evaluation process used in most schools and presents parents with constructive ideas to help them alleviate the stress that sometimes accompanies the distribution of report cards. It also touches upon ways to positively influence your child’s continued school performance by staying involved before and after report cards are issued.

Help! My Child is Gifted! The Importance of Parental Understanding and Support
Author(s): Paula J. Hillmann, Ph.D.
Gifted students need parental involvement and support too! This article describes the characteristics of gifted learners, provides examples of the areas where exceptional abilities often occur, describes what to look for in schools and programs for advanced learners, and presents ways of becoming an engaged, collaborative parent.

How Do You Know if You're Really Open to Partnership?
Author(s): Anne T. Henderson, Karen L. Mapp, Ed.D.
The authors of "Beyond the Bake Sale: The Essential Guide to Family-School Partnerships," share four core beliefs about parents and schools, discuss why partnerships are important, and ask the essential question, "How do you know you are open to partnership?" This article, excerpted from their successful book, is filled with thoughtful concepts, excellent examples, and ways to remove the barriers to creating family-school partnerships that work.

Parent Engagement in Education: Drama or Empowerment?
Author(s): David Emerald Womeldorff
Introducing TED* (*The Empowerment Dynamic), author David Emerald Womeldorff, discusses the dynamic dance that often occurs between student, parent(s) and school. TED shows us how parents and school can partner -- as coaches and challengers -- to create systems that support the student in his or her growth and development.

Why Children Don’t Listen
Author(s): Jane Nelsen, Ed.D.
Jane Nelsen, author and co-author of 18 books including the Positive Discipline Series and Raising Self-Reliant Children in a Self-Indulgent World, discusses the art of listening as a parent. Learn why lectures don't work and how to motivate and inspire your children without criticism.

Developing the Fully-Engaged Parent: A Model for Understanding Parent Involvement in Education
Author(s): Marilyn Price-Mitchell, Susan Grijalva
This model, developed through work with over thirty schools participating in ParentNet, depicts the relationship between schools and parents by defining five categories of parental involvement. Each category is discussed; showing how various types of involvement contributes to the success of the school community and to student success. A new way of understanding the relationship of parents and schools, the authors urge a paradigm shift in thinking how to build collaborative partnerships.