Parent Involvement Matters.Org eNEWS Archive
ParentInvolvementMatters.Org is proud to announce that within six months of launching our website, Google recognizes us as a leading resource for "parent involvement" and "parent involvement in education," as evidenced by our placement on its first page of search results for these keywords. Thank you to the many organizations who have provided links to us and to those who have shared resources. If you have not yet signed up to be in our free Consultant Directory, we invite you follow the easy online process to register. New Study Supports Epstein's Model In a recent study of a high-performing Texas middle school, Jeffrey L. Brasher, Ph.D., provides insights that support Joyce Epstein’s model of parent involvement. As outlined in this month's Featured Book, Epstein encourages six types of parent involvement strategies, the same as those foundational to ParentNet and discussed in our research section. Brasher conducted in-depth interviews with principals, teachers, and parents in a mid-sized middle school with an economically disadvantaged and at-risk population of approximately 24%. What he found was a school that had made huge strides in developing each of Epstein’s strategies. First, the school consistently communicated to parents in many different ways, always with a focus on the child. Parents were made to feel welcome and a valued part of their child’s education. Trust was high between parents, teachers and administrators regardless of economic background. This trust had been built over time, through respectful actions not just talk. Teachers believed that the academic success of students depended on parental support and that collaboration between parents and teachers was vital to student achievement. Although teachers and administrators felt challenged with the task of holding students and parents accountable, they committed themselves to this task through the use of academic teams focused on the success of each child. They regularly send positive information home to parents so that they could reinforce the child’s behavior at home. Of course, there are uninvolved parents in all schools. The teachers and administrators who were interviewed voiced frustration, noting that even a small portion of parents who are disengaged have detrimental effects on student progress. No one strategy for parent involvement is sufficient. Brasher’s research concluded that an effective parent involvement policy must include a variety of involvement opportunities and be actively encouraged by principals and teachers. (Brasher, J. L. (2007). A qualitative study on the parent participation strategies found in one exemplary middle school in Texas. Unpublished Dissertation, Texas Tech University.) ParentNet Thrives at Founding School After twelve years, ParentNet continues to be a successful parent involvement practice at the Overlake School in Redmond, WA, as well as numerous other schools in the U.S. and Canada. In a recent survey of Overlake parents, an overwhelming majority gave high marks to the quality of parent discussions and 97% said they would continue to return to meetings. Nearly 25% of Overlake families regularly participate in ParentNet meetings, many of whom do not identify themselves as “frequent school volunteers.” It has become clear to school leaders that ParentNet not only reaches parents who are not traditional volunteers but gives them a valuable opportunity to nurture their child’s development through a network of parental and school support. A Starter Kit containing all the information needed to begin ParentNet is available online. Learn More Please Spread the Word about PIM.Org Forward This Newsletter to a Friend or Colleague!		FEATURED BOOK School, Family, and Community Partnerships by Joyce L. Epstein This highly regarded book outlines Epstein's framework of the six types of parent involvement required to develop effective parent-school partnerships. Fast becoming a classic in the field, this is required reading for those working to increase parent involvement in education. Learn More FEATURED ARTICLE Help! My Child is Gifted! The Importance of Parental Understanding and Support by 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. Read Article Have an Article to share with our readers? FEATURED SUCCESS STORY Learn how a program in Ritchie County Schools in West Virginia applied Epstein's framework to increase parent engagement. Read True Partnerships: Parent Partners Leading the Way to Success Have a Success Story from your community or school?

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