Understanding the impact of parent school involvement on children's educational outcomes

Parent school involvement in children's education is associated with positive educational outcomes. This association has prompted efforts to increase such involvement through formal programs. However, among the few programs that have been rigorously evaluated, most do not appear to improve child outcomes, Using data from a study of 193 Los Angeles area 2nd- and 5th-grade children and their mothers, the authors attempted to confirm the relationship between parent involvement and child outcomes and understand what underlies it. The findings indicate that parent school involvement contributes to positive child outcomes. However, such involvement appears to be a manifestation of parental enthusiasm and positive parenting style. Parent-involvement programs might be more effective if they focused on such underlying constructs.