1 Family Network on Disabilities of Florida, Inc Whitney Road Clearwater, Florida Phone: (727) Toll free: (800) Website: Fathers’ Involvement in Their Children’s Education and Schools

2 Agenda Welcome and Introductions Why Focus on Fathers? Factors Associated with Father Involvement What research tells us Information Closing

3 Goal Raise awareness of father / parental involvement n children’s education

4 Objectives Recognize the importance of fathers’/parental involvement in children's education Discuss types of fathers’/parental involvement Suggestions for schools to involve fathers’/parents

National Education Goal - Goal 1 states “By the year 2000, all children in America will start school ready to learn.” Goal 8 states “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.”

6 Why Focus on Fathers? In 1995, President Clinton issued a memorandum requesting “all executive departments and agencies make a concerted effort to include fathers in their programs, policies, and research programs where appropriate and feasible. The new attention devoted to fathers is…to highlight the fact that fathers are important, too.”

7 What Students Say About Fathers’ and Mothers’ Involvement About 70 percent of teens say their mothers are involved in what happens to them at school. Only 62 percent say their fathers are involved in what happens to them at school. Source: NCES, 1997

8 The Importance of Fathers to Children’s Lives It is evident that the roles of both resident and nonresident fathers in their children's lives are in transition. With respect to family goals, the most important one for fathers is that "every one learn and do well in school," while children are more likely to say that mothers think it is more important to make "everyone feel special and important." (Ramey, 1996)

9 Areas in which fathers' involvement has significant effects on children. Modeling adult male behavior Making choices Problem solving abilities Providing financial and emotional support Enhancing student performance

10 Fathers A Factor In Children's Education “ A child's chances of succeeding in school are greatly enhanced if the father is involved in his or her schooling, according to a Department of Education survey earlier this year of the parents or guardians of 17,000 students.” National Center for Policy Analysis

11 Resident Fathers’ Involvement How do fathers compare with mothers in their level of involvement in their children’s schools? Does fathers’ involvement increase or decrease as children get older? What factors are associated with fathers’ involvement in schools? Is fathers’ involvement in schools linked to measures of children’s school outcome?

12 Fathers’ Involvement To what extent are non-resident fathers involved in their children’s schools? What factors influence the involvement of nonresident fathers? Do children with involved non- resident fathers do better in school than children with less involved or uninvolved non-resident fathers?

13 Importance of Parents’ Involvement to Student Success in School Both parents have high involvement Only father has high involvement Only mother has high involvement Both parents have low involvement Percent of Students K Repeated a Grade Suspended/Expelled Got Mostly A’s Students’ School Status

14 Involvement of Single Fathers in Their Children’s Education Across Grade Levels Percent of Children with Highly Involved Fathers by Grade Level Percent

15 Single Fathers’ Involvement and Student Achievement Importance of Fathers’ Involvement to Student Success in School High involvement Low involvement Repeated a Grade Suspended/Expelled Got Mostly A’s Students’ School Status Percent of Students K-12

16 Non-Resident Fathers’ Involvement and Student Achievement Importance of Fathers’ Involvement to Student Success in School High involvement Low involvement Percent of Students K Repeated a Grade Suspended/Expelled Got Mostly A’s Students’ School Status

17 Family Involvement and Student Achievement Among Two-Parent Families Importance of Parents’ Involvement to Student Success in School Repeated a Grade Suspended/Expelled Got Mostly A’s Both parents have high involvement Only father has high involvement Only mother has high involvement Both parents have low involvement Percent of Students K-12 Students’ School Status

18 Students gain: Higher grades Better attendance and homework completion More positive attitudes Higher graduation rates Higher college enrollment rates Schools gain: Improved teacher morale Higher ratings of teachers by parents More support from families Better reputations in the community The Mutual Benefits of Family Involvement

19 Barriers to Fathers' Involvement Institutional practices Social stigma No or low expectations by society for fathers to be involved Just don’t know how to be involved

20 How Fathers Can Get Involved with their Children at Home  Read with children.  Discuss the day’s events with their children.  Help their children with homework and special projects.  Limit television viewing time.  Watch TV with their children and talk about program messages.

21 Ways to Improve Father Involvement in Education  Overcome time and resource constraints.  Provide information and training to parents and school staff.  Restructure schools to support family involvement.  Bridge school-family differences.  Tap external supports for partnerships.

22 How Schools Can Involve Fathers  Make a special effort to include fathers in: parent/teacher conferences. after-school and extracurricular activities. mentoring and tutoring activities.  Keep fathers informed of their children’s progress and performance through ongoing contact, including newsletters, conferences, and telephone calls.

23 Parent/Family Involvement Practices The National PTA Standards for Parent/Family Involvement Programs  Communicating  Parenting  Student Learning  Volunteering  School Decision-Making and Advocacy  Collaborating with the Community

24 PTA Website Link PTA : PTA Home

25 What Fathers Can Do at Home, at School and in the Community “The nature and frequency with which parents interact in positive ways with their children reflect the parents’ investment in their children’s education (NCES, 2000).” U.S. Department of Education: A Call to Commitment: Fathers‘ Involvement in Children's Learning (PDF) (Aug 20, 2004)

26 Information on Fathers’ Involvement Call USA-LEARN or visit:    html     Don’t forget to complete our online survey on the last slide!

27 Thank you! Please click on the link below to take a short online survey. Type in your password: fathers Parent survey: insert link here Educator survey: insert link here

28 Please Complete Evaluation For more information contact: 2735 Whitney Road Clearwater, Florida Office: or Fax: