Parent Involvement in Public Education: A Literature Review

The involvement of parents and other caregivers in schools is increasingly viewed as not only a complement to the work of educators, but a as critical and essential support for the academic, psychological, and emotional development of youth. This literature review summarizes research on the current issues in parent involvement highlighting the common factors that influence involvement and key strategies that have been found effective in involving parents. Although there has been an onslaught of federal mandates for schools and districts to establish programs that increase parental involvement, translating parent involvement policies into effective practice is a formidable challenge for many schools and districts. A variety of factors – ranging from logistics to the hospitability of schools – can influence parents’ level of involvement in their children’s education. If not addressed, these issues hinder meaningful parental engagement. In order to overcome these barriers, Henderson and Mapp (2002) highlight the importance of establishing caring and trusting relationships between parents and school staff, and recognizing parents as valuable partners in the school. Research also points to the important role that districts can play in supporting schools as they become more parent friendly places. External intermediary organizations can assist by building parents’ skills in order to be effective advocates in their children’s education.