Critical Issue: Supporting Ways Parents and Families Can Become Involved in Schools

Joe D'Amico

Joe D'Amico, co-host of NCREL's Rural Audio Journal, talks about parent involvement having positive effects on students. Excerpted from the Rural Audio Journal, volume 3, number 3, Families and Schools Together (North Central Regional Educational Laboratory, 1995).

"I agree, and we see the results not only in academic achievement, we see it in higher attendance levels, decline in drop out rates, fewer disciplinary problems, and of course the students themselves have higher motivation, more self-esteem, and their behavior is generally more focused on what needs to be done to get them ahead in the world."

This Critical Issue was researched and written by Joe Nathan, a senior fellow at the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota. He directs the Institute's Center for School Change.

Development and production of this Critical Issue was a collaborative effort of the Appalachia Educational Laboratory and the North Central Regional Educational Laboratory.

Date posted: 1996