Family Involvement Equals Student Success No Matter Background

SPECIAL EMBARGO FOR RELEASE: 9:30 a.m. (ET) Thursday, August 10, 2006

Leading Educators Speak Out on Behalf of School-Family Partnerships

NEW YORK CITY, NY, August 10, 2006- Two leading national education experts confirmed today that when families partner with schools, children succeed despite their income, age, or background. At the PTA's National Back to School Media Briefing, Karen Mapp, Ed.D., a leading education researcher on school, family and community partnerships and lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School on Education and PTA Chief Executive Officer Warlene Gary called on the education community to help lead family involvement efforts.

"No matter what the demographics, students are more likely to earn higher grades and test scores, attend school regularly, have better social skills, graduate and go on to post-secondary education when schools and families partner," said Mapp.

Researchers from around the country continue to affirm these findings for students from kindergarten through 12th grade, whose own research focuses on urban, rural and economically disadvantaged communities. In addition, schools are under increasing pressures by the No Child Left Behind Act to create programs that involve families in their children's education in order to raise student achievement.

"We now know what practices make a difference in engaging parents, families and communities in the educational process, and it's not simply holding more events at school," said Gary. "Instead, it's about reaching out to families in their own homes and communities to build relationships and earn trust."

Gary agreed that effective programs embrace a philosophy of partnership. Part of this process for schools includes welcoming families and making them feel comfortable as part of the school community, honoring and affirming any type of involvement or contributions families can make, and putting children at the center of educational issues.

Specific practices that have been shown to make a positive difference include:

• Creating family centers in schools;
• Employing family coordinators;
• Conducting home visits;
• Offering parent leadership training; and
• Establishing collaborative programs with community organizations.

However, Mapp cautions against using a one-size-fits-all approach. "What works best for one community may not necessarily be effective in another," she said. "Each community must be consulted and engaged on its own terms."

Mapp's research findings complement PTA's recommendations to help schools facilitate family involvement. The recommendations were developed in conjunction with the National Network of Partnership Schools, which has worked for the past eight years to conduct research and to develop guidelines, tools and materials that schools can use to improve their students' learning

"The key to children's success is teamwork," said Gary. "Both parents and children respond to well-designed school partnership programs."

To learn more about family involvement in the schools or PTA's school recommendations for parent/family involvement, go to www.pta.org/standards .

About PTA
PTA comprises nearly 6 million parents and other concerned adults devoted to the educational success of children and the promotion of parent involvement in schools. PTA is a registered 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization that prides itself on being a powerful voice for children, a relevant resource for parents, and a strong advocate for public education. Membership in PTA is open to anyone who is concerned with the education, health, and welfare of children and youth.