The most widely adopted framework for viewing different levels of parent involvement comes from Johns Hopkins University’s Joyce Epstein, who directs the Center on School, Family, and Community Partnerships and the National Network of Partnership Schools.  

Epstein’s six-part framework, Schools, Family, and Community Partnerships, forms the basis of California’s own Family Engagement Framework.

It has also been adopted by the National PTA, the National School Boards Association, as well as departments of education in several states.

Epstein has identified six ways for schools to involve parents:

1. Help with parenting. Schools assist families with parenting skills and provide family support.

2. Communications. Schools communicate with families about programs, curricula and student progress, and create two-way communication channels between school and home.

3. Volunteering. Schools actively recruit parents as volunteers in a wide range of activities.

4. Learning at home. Schools help involve parents in their child’s learning at home, including doing homework, helping their children set goals and other activities related to the school curriculum.

5. Decision-making. Schools include families as participants in school decisions, governance and advocacy activities through school councils or improvement teams, committees and parent organizations.

6. Collaboration. Schools help coordinate their own resources and services for families, students and the school with community organizations, businesses and cultural organizations. 

Source:  The Power of Parents Research underscores the impact of parent involvement in schools

The research is clear, consistent, and convincing parent, family, and community involvement in education correlates with higher academic performance and school improvement.  When schools, parents, families, and communities work together to support learning, students tend to earn higher grades, attend school more regularly, stay in school longer, and enroll in higher level programs.

Researchers cite parent-family community involvement as a key to addressing the school dropout crisis and note that strong school-family-community partnerships foster higher educational aspirations and more motivated students.

The evidence holds true for students at both the elementary and secondary level, regardless of the parent’s education, family income, or background—and the research shows parent involvement affects minority students’ academic achievement across all races. 

Parent Education Bridge for Student Achivement is committed to providing the best quality parent education program.  

You can trust us to do the best job providing parent engagement workshops for the parents and families at your school because we care, and we have a successfull track record of educating families.