Parental involvement in education: A review and synthesis of the literature.

Abstract

It is generally accepted that parents influence signíficantly the rnanncr in which their children approach the dernands of school. Research has consistently shown a strong, positive relationship between parental involvcrnent activities (e.g., belping with bomework) and children manifesting appropriatc classroom attitudes, behavior, asid achievernent. The parental involvenient literature is rcviewed systernatically as a rneans of conceptua:

lizing the vadous parental involvement roles. Parental involvement can be distinguished by both its home asid school focus. One rnay consider the borne focus as primary invol­venient, ira that the parents~ behavior is more directly asid ernpirically related to the chsldren s classroorn efforts. The school focus is conceived of as secondary involvement in that the school is opcrating as a rnedÁating Iink between parent behaviors and child­ren’s classroom performance. Suggestions are aIso offered regarding the establishrnent of parental involvement programs.