Parent Involvement Inventory

The Illinois State Board of Education (1994) has developed the following parent involvement inventory to determine strategies for increasing family involvement:

CHECK ONE Parent Combined Response Teacher Other (specify)_________ Administrator	ILLINOIS STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION Program Initiative Section 100 North First Street Springfield, Illinois 62777-0001   Parent Involvement Inventory
Instruction: Please consider each statement carefully. Check each box that applies throughout your school.

I. TEACHER/COACH - Supporting the learning process

1. Parents are informed of homework policy by:
	a. Handbook		f. Homework Hotline
	b. Parent orientation		g. Special information sheet
	c. Newsletter		h. Teacher contract
	d. Homework Calendar		i. Other (specify)_________
	e. Assignment Notebook
2. Parents are given specific ways to monitor homework.
	a. Newsletter		d. Special information sheet
	b. Parent-teacher conferences		e. Other (specify)_________
	c. Interactive Homework
3. Parents are encouraged to monitor/limit television viewing.
	a. Newsletter		c. Special information sheet
	b. Parent-teacher conferences		d. Other (specify)_________
4. Parents are provided with material or easy access to materials to assist parents as teachers.
	a. Parent Library/reading room		d. Parent inservice
	b. Parent tip sheets		e. Other (specify)_________
	c. Daily activity calendar
5. Parents are provided information about libraries, book clubs, and other educational opportunities for their child.
	a. Teacher contact		c. Newsletters
	b. Informational brochures		d. Other (specify)_________
6. Parents are provided with classes.
	a. Techniques for creating a home learning environment		d. GED
	b. Helping your child with school		e. Computer literacy
	c. English literacy		f. Other (specify)_________
7. Parents are informed immediately when children are truant or absent.
	a. Within one hour of school beginning		e. By the truant officer
	b. During the same school day		f. By the classroom teacher
	c. By the principal		g. Other (specify)_________
	d. By the secretary
8. Parent-teacher conferences are held for every student.
	a. Once a year		e. Regular school hours only
	b. Twice a year		f. Combination evening and regular school hours
	c. Quarterly		g. Other (specify)_________
	d. As needed
9. Parents new to the school and/or community receive some special orientation.
	a. Welcome Wagon		c. Other (specify)_________
	b. Orientation meeting
10. School personnel are easily accessible to all parents.
	a. During prep time only		d. By appointment only
	b. After school only		e. Combinations of above
	c. Before school only		f. Other (specify)_________
11. School/home projects and activities are provided to reinforce classroom work.
	a. Student and parent information sessions provided		g. TIPS (Teachers Involve Parents in School Work)/TR>
	b. Science fairs/Invention Convention		h. Family math
	c. History fairs		i. Family science
	d. Home learning packets to reinforce classroom learning		j. Family/home reading
	e. Other academic affairs		k. Interactive homework assignments
	f. Young Authors		l. Other (specify)_________
12. Parents are notified immediately when their child is having academic difficulty.
	a. Written progress report		d. Student/teacher/parent contracts/TR>
	b. Individual student progress conferences		e. Team meetings with parents
	c. Telephone conferences		f. Other (specify)_________
13. Specific suggestions are given to parents in order to prevent their child's failure.
	a. Written progress report		d. Student/teacher/parent contracts/TR>
	b. Individual student progress conferences		e. Team meetings with parents
	c. Telephone conferences		f. Other (specify)_________

The school provides information to parents on how to support the learning process. (Rate your school on a scale of 5-1, with 5 being the highest rating and 1 being the lowest. Circle your rating.)

High				Low
5	4	3	2	1

II. SUPPORTER/VOLUNTEER

14. The school has solicited volunteers.
	a. From the parents/families		c. From businesses
	b. From the community		d. From organizations
15. Parents are solicited to volunteer in some way during the year.
	a. Survey		d. Parent orientation
	b. Group meetings		e. Personal contact
	c. Newsletters		f. Other (specify)_________
16. Someone is in charge of coordinating volunteer efforts.
	a. Principal		d. Paid position
	b. Teacher		e. Other (specify)_________
	c. Parent
17. The volunteer program is organized.
	a. Orientation is provided		e. Effectiveness is monitored
	b. Guidelines/handbook is provided		f. Volunteers receive feedback
	c. Training is provided		g. All who volunteer are utilized in some way
	d. Program is consistent		h. Other (specify)_________
18. Volunteers are recognized and/or rewarded for their contributions.
	a. Ongoing recognition (e.g., notes, verbal praise)		c. Certificate given
	b. Yearly recognition ceremony		d. Other (specify)_________
19. The school has provided the following parent volunteer opportunities.
	a. Committee member (e.g., discipline, strategic planning)		k. Communications (e.g., newsletter)
	b. Field trips		l. Book fairs
	c. Library aides		m. Special skills
	d. Computer aides		n. Teacher assistant
	e. Office help		o. Telephone
	f. Activity sponsor		p. School store
	g. Monitoring events		q. Friend/mentor
	h. Special events		r. Extended day program
	i. Social activities		s. Tutor
	j. Fund-raising		t. Other (specify)_________

The school provides opportunities for volunteers to be involved in the school and supports children and families. (Rate your school on a scale of 5-1, with 5 being the highest rating and 1 being the lowest. Circle your rating.)

High				Low
5	4	3	2	1

III. COMMUNICATOR

20. The school provides:
	a. Parent-teacher conferences		r. Handbooks to home
	b. Weekly newsletter school/classroom		s. Activity calendar
	c. Back to school nights		t. Regular classroom observation time
	d. parent organization meetings		u. Process portfolios
	e. Coffee/breakfast with principal/staff		v. Weekly folders of students' work
	f. Presentations to community groups		w. Tip sheets
	g. Progress reports		x. Assignment calendars
	h. Policies (homework, health, discipline)		y. Homework journals
	i. Report cards		z. Homework contracts
	j. Recorded call-in phone messages (hotline)		aa. Parent/teacher grams
	k. Telephone conferences		bb. Success reports/happy grams
	l. Open houses		cc. Community breakfast
	m. Special events (e.g., fun nights)		dd. Potluck supper
	n. Team/classroom meetings		ee. Grade-level curriculum packets/expectations
	o. Home visits		ff. Meeting notices
	p. Parent survey (written or telephone)		gg. Other (specify)_________
	q. Regular letters/notes
21. The school provides interpreters for non-English speaking parents.
	a. Spanish		e. Vietnamese
	b. Greek		f. Japanese
	c. Chinese		g. Other (specify)_________
	d. Polish
22. Non-custodial parents are kept informed.
	a. The same as the custodial parent		c. Annually
	b. Quarterly		d. Other (specify)_________
23. The school makes every effort to communicate with parents who are non-readers.
	a. Home visits		d. Video tapes
	b. Phone calls		e. Cable TV
	c. Audio tapes
24. The school communicates regularly with social agencies and other community service groups.
25. The school utilizes available media sources.
	a. Closed circuit television		d. Radio
	b. Newspapers		e. Cable TV
	c. Business marquee		f. Other (specify)_________
26. The school schedules events/conferences requiring parent participation at a variety of times to accommodate all parents.
	a. Evening		d. During school
	b. Weekends		e. After school
	c. Before school begins		f. Other (specify)_________

The school and parent are engaged in frequent, clear two-way communication. (Rate your school on a scale of 5-1, with 5 being the highest rating and 1 being the lowest. Circle your rating.)

High				Low
5	4	3	2	1

IV. LEARNER

27. The school provides.
	a. Parent information nights		m. Problem solving
	b. GED classes at the school		n. Child/adolescent development
	c. Language classes at the school		o. Parent/child communication
	d. Parenting classes for AIDS education		p. Vocational counseling/skills (e.g., completing job applications, writing a resume, job interview techniques, re-entering the work force)
	e. Parenting classes for drug and alcohol awareness		q. Stress management
	f. Parenting classes for parenting skills		r. Study skills/how to help with homework
	g. Parenting classes for improving self-esteem		s. Parenting classes for discipline/behavior management
	h. Parent center/room		t. Parent classes for motivation
	i. Parent classes for wellness, health and nutrition		u. Time management
	j. Family literacy activities		v. Other (specify)_________
	k. Computer literacy
	l. Preventing abuse (verbal, physical, sexual)
28. The school provides classes/workshops for teachers on:
	a. Communication		e. Cultural diversity
	b. Teaming		f. Discipline/classroom management
	c. Time management		g. Conflict management
	d. Parent involvement		h. Other (specify)_________
29. Classes and workshops provided are co-presented by teachers and parents.
30. Classes and workshops are offered at sites other than at school.

The school provides consistent opportunities for parents to improve their skills and broaden their knowledge base. (Rate your school on a scale of 5-1, with 5 being the highest and 1 being the lowest. Circle your rating.)

High				Low
5	4	3	2	1

V. AUDIENCE

31. The school provides all students an opportunity to perform for parents (e.g., holiday programs, musicals, concerts, fairs, intramural sports events, etc.).
	a. Yearly		d. Infrequently
	b. Twice a year		e. Never
	c. Frequently		f. Other (specify)_________
32. The school provides special groups of students the opportunity to participate for parent audiences.
	a. Sports		e. Academic skill events (e.g., science fairs, spelling bees, quiz bowl)
	b. Music events		f. Other (specify)_________
	c. Talent nights
	d. Art events
33. The school provides parents the opportunity to observe student work/projects displayed in the community.
34. The school schedules events for parent audiences at a variety of times to accommodate all parents.
	a. Evening		d. During school
	b. Weekends		e. After school
	c. Before school begins		f. Other (specify)_________

The school provides all parents with regular opportunities to observe their children in skill and talent demonstrations. (Rate your school on a scale of 5-1, with 5 being the highest and 1 being the lowest. Circle your rating.)

High				Low
5	4	3	2	1

VI. ADVOCATE/DECISION MAKER

35. The school has a policy or process to insure parent involvement in decision making.
36. Parents have an equal opportunity to serve on curriculum, discipline or other types of committees.
37. Parents have an opportunity for input on policy development.
	a. Written survey		e. Suggestion box
	b. District committee		f. Informal comments to teachers/principal
	c. School committee		g. Other (specify)_________
	d. School cadre
38. Parents have easy access to school policies.
39. A functioning parent organization provides input to the administration on issues affecting their children (e.g., PTA, PTO).
40. Parents are asked for help in resolving problems which face the school (e.g., declining test scores, vandalism, increased truancy, parking problems).
	a. Written survey		e. Suggestion box
	b. District committee		f. Informal comments to teachers/principal
	c. School committee		g. Other (specify)_________
	d. School cadre
41. Parents are equal partners in the Steering Committee/Building Leadership Team.
42. Parents are members of each cadre functioning in the school.
43. Parents have received training on how to be co-decision-makers.
44. Regular meetings are held for parents of children in special programs (e.g., Chapter 1, gifted education, special education).
45. The school schedules committee meetings at a variety of times to accommodate participation by all interested parents.
	a. Evening		d. During school
	b. Weekends		e. After school
	c. Before school begins		f. Other (specify)_________

The school provides parents with regular opportunities to serve on school committees/groups involved in problem solving/decision making. (Rate your school on a scale of 5-1, with 5 being the highest and 1 being the lowest. Circle your rating.)

High				Low
5	4	3	2	1

VII. HOME/SCHOOL/COMMUNITY PARTNERS

46. The school has formed partnerships with outside agencies, businesses or institutions of higher education as a way of enhancing the cultural capital for children.
47. The school provides support for families and children which have been referred for a specified problem.
48. The school provides prevention and early intervention with families through coordinated resources.
49. On-site school physicals/dental exams are provided by community service providers.
50. Community service opportunities are provided for students.
51. Community members/organizations share their knowledge, and skills (e.g., career days, exploratory activities) with the school.
52. School health/social service agencies share facilities with the school.
53. Youth service agencies share facilities/services with the school.
54. Parents, students, teachers and/or business persons trade places.
55. The school has a written policy on parent involvement.
56. Teachers receive inservice on effective communications and parent involvement.
57. The administration provides released time for parents and teachers to collaborate during school time.
58. The principal serves as a parent advocate.
59. Staff meeting time is devoted to discussing ways to improve/increase parent involvement.
60. The school provides child-care and transportation for school events and/or conferences.
61. The school climate is monitored to ensure a friendly, welcoming atmosphere for parents (and other visitors).
62. School office staff are instructed on how to respond to contacts with families.
63. Parents have a comfortable place to meet and work at the school site.
	a. Separate room
	b. Share teachers' lounge
	c. Other (specify)_________
64. Parent and community needs in home-school relationships are assessed.
	a. Survey		c. Focus groups
	b. Interviews		d. Other (specify)_________
				65. Parents and community representatives participate in developing the school's vision.
66. Parent involvement is specified in the school improvement plan.
67. Social events also have a strong education content (e.g., achievement assembly).
68. Parents and/or business persons shadow students.
69. Community service projects are considered on a regular basis.
70. Parents sit on an interagency council for coordinating health, education and social activities.
71. Parents serve on the steering committee and all cadres.
72. Community representatives serve on the steering committee and appropriate cadres.

The school provides a positive climate for home/school/community partnerships. (Rate your school on a scale of 5-1, with 5 being the highest and 1 being the lowest. Circle your rating.)

High				Low
5	4	3	2	1

Courtesy of the Illinois State Board of Education.

  References