"Parents as Learning Partners" is helping parents and schools work together to improve student achievement. How Can Schools Improve Parent Involvement? Tell Us What You Think.

Survey Shows Big Gaps to Bridge Between Parents and Educators "Parents as Learning Partners" survey also points out shared strengths and common ground ACCORDING TO A RECENT SURVEY CONDUCTED IN SCHOOLS in Los Angeles and Long Beach more than 50 percent of parents believe that students are working at the right rate. Conversely, more than 50 percent of school staff disagree that student work measures up to their expectations. "These completely opposite views dramatically demonstrate the need to improve parent involvement and understanding about public education and the glaring need for educators to do a better job of communicating with parents about the expectations and standards for student performance," says Peggy Funkhouser, president of the Los Angeles Educational Partnership. These key findings and others are contained in the needs assessment survey conducted for "Parents As Learning Partners" by the Los Angeles Educational Partnership with Philliber Research Associates . The survey explores the opinions of parents and educators in 29 schools in the Francis Polytechnic and Lincoln school families in the Los Angeles Unified School District and in the Polytechnic School Family in the Long Beach Unified School District. While the survey shows some big gaps in communications between parents and educators it also provides some valuable information that can help schools to shape effective parent involvement initiatives. Strengths to Build On Majorities of parents and school staff agree that students do better when parents are involved Parents are interested in participating in training to volunteer in classrooms, helping teachers to design parent friendly homework and learning from teachers about educational expectations for their children School staffs are willing to work with parents in these areas Teachers are willing to have parents visit their classrooms Findings to Consider in Shaping Programs Almost half of all parents with children in elementary school reported a need for daytime, evening and Saturday child care. The majority of parents would attend discussions on helping their children succeed in school if child care was provided School staffs are willing to teach parent classes evenings, weekend and summers if they are paid The majority of parents report that the two main reasons families have trouble helping students with homework is that parents lack the necessary skill and students do not share their assignments with parents The majority of parents would use a homework hotline and teachers say they are willing to use and update such a hotline regularly The majority of school staff believe the best time to begin parent involvement was pre-kindergarten through first grade Challenges to Overcome More than 40 percent of parents cite lack of parent interest as a big problem for improving communication between schools and parents Most parents felt that few fathers would attend school meetings Middle and high schools report fewer parent volunteers at school and in the classroom Complete copies of the "Parents as Learning Partners" survey are available from the Los Angeles Educational Partnership. For information phone, Mike Martinez at (213) 622-5237 or via email at mlm@lalc.k12.ca.us.