Increasing parental involvement means building strong relationships between parents, teachers and administrators. Educators can do so by inviting parents to family-friendly events without the pressure of volunteering at the beginning of the year. A family buffet or luncheon, for example, is an opportunity for parents to meet teachers and administrators in a relaxed setting. Teachers can also make home phone calls to update parents on their child's progress, regardless of how poorly or highly they are achieving in class. Lastly, a collaborative newsletter between teachers and administrators that provides information on classroom activities, as well as school-wide events can help to establish a strong connection between parents and teachers.
Teachers and administrators can partake in parent involvement training that teaches various strategies on effectively reaching out to parents. This may be especially important when working with diverse or multilingual families, which may present cultural barriers for parents and administrators. By providing tips and techniques, such as effective communication, soliciting volunteers and organizational strategies, teachers and administrators can reach all parents and encourage greater participation.
Parental involvement is not limited to fundraising and chaperoning school dances. Parents can get involved in a number of ways, and it is important to develop opportunities that cater to a variety of parental interests that also improve student academic outcomes. For example, some parents may be interested in tutoring students, while others enjoy organizing events. Others, on the other hand, may simply prefer assisting their child at home. Presenting a comprehensive list of what parents can do will not only help you to reach more students but will make incremental improvements in parental involvement.
Many parents shy away from getting involved in their child's school because they do not have time and do not want to overly commit themselves. Principals can address this issue by implementing a three-hour involvement initiative school-wide. Such an initiative would encourage parents to give at least three hours of volunteer time over the school year. Teachers can help to track hours volunteered and encourage parents to meet their hours. Additionally, teachers and administrators can schedule events that work with parents' schedules.