Parent Involvement in Early Childhood Education GSRP Teachers September 7. 2012

Why Promote Parent Involvement? Parent’s Rights Professional Responsibility Improved Outcomes for Students Improved Schools Improved Staff Morale Improved Community Reputation & Support Besides Improved Outcomes for Students, professionals should promote Parent involvement because: Parent’s Rights -FERPA & ESEA Professional Responsibility: We know that families are the primary context of children’s development Improved Schools Improved Staff Morale Improved Community Reputation & Support Improved morale goes along with higher ratings of teachers by parents, higher satisfaction by parents = more support from families and better reputations in the community as well as increased community support for schools Special needs issues: More clearly defined rights of parents More vulnerable population Means increased need for parent involvement

“Over 30 years’ research has proven beyond dispute the positive connection between parent involvement and student success. Effectively engaging parents and families in the education of their children has the potential to be far more transformational than any other type of educational reform.” National PTA, 1997 Report Parents exercise their right to be involved in the decisions related to their children. Parents are involved in decisions related to their school and community.

Research Shows Parent Involvement Makes A Difference Helps Children get ready to enter school Promotes School Success Prepares Youth for College Promotes Success in Adult Life Good early experiences can set in motion a chain of events that pervades the child's life through high school and beyond, increasing the quality of his/her life experiences along the way.

Encourage Parents At Home Visits To: Look for everyday learning opportunities at home Talk, using complex words and sentences Read to their young children every day Have books in the home, and provide an example – read for pleasure Teach them to identify letters and numbers Connect printed words and letters to sounds

More Parents Can Do At Home Name, count, sort household objects Explore the world of nature with their child Provide consistent routines and discipline Monitor and limit “screen time” Name feelings and talk about how you handle them Ask parents at this point for other ideas they have to help their children be ready for school.

What Can We Expect of Parents at School? Volunteer in the classroom Volunteer any policy making committees Attend parent-teacher conferences Communicate regularly with staff Reinforce lessons and rules from school Voice their concerns and express their thanks Brainstorming Activity

How Else Do We Encourage Parents? Inform of parent education programs offered in the community or in-home Inform of parent-child activity groups offered by your school, library, etc. Assist to access other community resources if the family needs help

What About Dads? Two involved parents are better than one! Research shows positive outcomes for school success and social adaptation when dads are involved Other males can take on these roles

Different Parenting Styles Moms and Dads tend to have different parenting styles Father is more likely to be playful, to encourage risk taking and not as quick to intervene in the face of child’s frustration. Mother is more likely to provide physical care, more likely to stress emotional security and personal safety, quicker to intervene in child’s frustration.

Positive Outcomes When Dads Are Involved Better grades at school More likely to enjoy school More likely to participate in extracurricular activities Less likely to repeat a grade Less likely to be truant or to be expelled These positive outcomes continue: less delinquency, delayed sexual activity, increased empathy and pro-social behavior

What Should Professionals Know About Parent Involvement? Positive outcomes not related to economic, ethnic or cultural background of family. Every family has strengths and valuable information about their children. When families feel comfortable in the school setting they are more likely to get involved. More than one time events are needed. Parents must be given substantive tasks. Barriers to parent involvement must be removed. P.I. Related to 0ther positive outcomes such as decreased violence and substance abuse. Substantive tasks such as school restructuring and higher learning standards. Barriers such as release time from work, scheduling, transportation, and child care make it difficult for parents to volunteer or attend meetings at school

What Keeps Parents From Being Involved? Time Culture / Personality Parents own history at school Uncertainty Some schools may not welcome parents May be other issues for dads: Staff may seem to prefer or expect to work with mom More school staff are women More boys have difficulties at school Use this slide for further discussion of why parents might choose not to be involved. Also ask parents how school staff might work to reduce or eliminate some of these barriers. This discussion might be a chance to ease some parental concerns and might also help staff to understand how some parents might think and what to do about it. Overcoming barriers: Family staff interaction is key Positive and proactive communication Provide teachers with dedicated time or incentives such as stipends or comp time Free teachers from mundane tasks to refocus on family involvement Note that fathers ranked institutional practices and barriers imposed by the workplace as the most significant reasons for low levels of involvement. Paternity leave and flex time can enhance fathers’ involvement

Ways to Promote Parent Involvement & Partnerships The school environment is family friendly Communication is family friendly Family involvement in school decision making Parents as volunteers

National PTA Standards for Parent Involvement Communication Parenting Student learning Volunteering School decision making & advocacy Collaborating with the community

Summary The research shows that family involvement in early childhood education makes a difference in school success and throughout life Help parents identify everyday learning experiences in the home. Provide information on home visiting programs, parent education and parent support programs, parent-child activity groups, etc. Expect parents to be involved in their child’s preschool program Male involvement is important in a child’s development Create expectation of parent’s involvement in child’s education from Pre-K - 12

References “Early Childhood Standards of Quality for Prekindergarten” Michigan State Board of Education. March 8, 2005 “Family Involvement in Early Childhood Education” Harvard Family Research Project. Spring, 2006 “Father Presence / Father Involvement” Minnesota Institute of Public Health. “Father Facts” National Fatherhood Initiative. 2002 www.fatherhood.org “Parent Guides” #18 & #19, Michigan Department of Education. www.michigan.gov/mde Prepared by: Mike Acosta, School Social Worker Wexford Missaukee I.S.D. macosta@wmisd.org