This work is a report on the positive impact of parental involvement on their child’s academics and on the school at large.

 “No Child Left Behind” promotes it. Research confirms it. Schools across the country are proving it. Getting parents involved in their children’s education—not just with homework but in the life of the school itself—has a remarkably positive impact on the report card, the school, and the community. 

Building Parent Engagement in Schools is an introduction to educators, particularly in lower-income and urban schools, who want to promote increased parental engagement in both the classroom and at home—an effort required by provisions of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.  It is both an authoritative review of research that confirms the positive impact of parental involvement on student achievement and a guide for implementing proven strategies for increasing that involvement.

With Building Parent Engagement in Schools, educators can start to develop a hybrid culture between home and school, so that school can serve as a cultural bridge for the students. Filled with the voices of real educators, students, and parents, the book documents a number of parent-involved efforts to improve low-income communities, gain greater resources for schools, and improve academic achievement. Coverage includes details of real initiatives in action, including programs for home visits, innovative uses of technology, joint enterprises like school/community gardens, and community organization efforts.

Features:
• Includes four specific real-life examples of parental involvement initiatives: home visits, the use of technology, school/community gardens, and community organizing
• Offers bibliographic listings for additional print and online resources
• Presents a comprehensive index

Highlights:
• Examines the roles of media specialists, teachers, and administrators in engaging parents in our schools
• Reports on the conclusive research documenting the positive impact of parent engagement in student achievement
• Informs readers about grassroots community organizing networks such as the Industrial Areas Foundation, the Pacific Institute for Community Organization, and the Gameliel Foundation
• Offers practical tips like using technology for parent outreach, such as student-created audiocasts that are sent out by automated phones calls from school sites