National Education Goals Panel and Goal 8:
Parental Involvement Tips
Goal 8: Parental Participation
By the year 2000, every school will promote partnerships that will increase parental involvement and participation in promoting the social, emotional and academic growth of children.
National Education Goals, 1990
What is the National Education Goals Panel?
Created in July 1990, the National Education Goals Panel is a bipartisan body of federal and state officials made up of eight governors, four members of Congress, four state legislators and two members appointed by the President.
What are the National Educational Goals?
The eight National Education Goals call for:
- having all children ready to learn by the time they start school
- greater levels of high school completion;
- improved student achievement and citizenship;
- stronger teacher education and professional development;
- enabling U.S. students to be first in the world in mathematics and science achievement by the year 2000;
- literacy and lifelong learning;
- safe, disciplined, and alcohol and drug-free schools; and
- increased parental participation in the schools.
To encourage further achievement of the eighth goal, the panel has released the following information and tips:
Some Statistics
1. The Goals Panel values the growing body of research that indicates that increased family involvement is associated with higher mathematics and reading scores, decreased likelihood of student suspension or expulsion, and greater student participation in extracurricular school activities.
2. Teachers rated strengthening parental involvement in their children’s education as the most important educational policy priority in the coming years. Research shows that effective family-school-community partnerships can be established in only three to five years.
3. Nearly three-fourths of 10- to 13-year olds and nearly half of 14- to 17-year olds report that they would like to talk to their parents more about schoolwork.
4. Four out of 10 parents believe they are not spending as much time as they would like on their children’s education.
5. Almost one-third of secondary school teachers in United States believes that lack of parental involvement is a serious problem for their schools.
Five Ways Schools & Districts Can
Encourage Parental Involvement
1. Design effective communication tools to inform parents about school programs and student progress.
2. Know the parents and use their talents in school programs and activities.
3. Create homework assignments that encourage students to discuss and interact with families on what they are learning in classes.
4. Invite parents to participate on decision-making committees for Title 1 or local school improvement councils.
5. Recognize diverse family structures and traditions.
Five Ways Parents Can Contribute
1. Designate time to help your children with their schoolwork.
2. Talk to your children, read or tell stories to them every day.
3. Get to know the teachers. Attend parent-teacher conferences and communicate to the teachers your expectations and concerns to help you effectively monitor your children’s progression.
4. Attend school programs and social activities with your child to interact with teachers and other students and parents. Also, add your input to policy decisions at your school or in the district.
5. Continue your involvement at school beyond the elementary grades. Your presence is needed at every level of your child’s education - from Head Start through high school.