Parental Involvement is Important!

There's no doubt about it - parents and families that are involved in their student's school lives make a huge difference in student achievement. Students receive higher grades and test scores, have better attendance, and develop a more positive attitude toward school.

A recent study of middle and high school students completed by Duke University found that parents' influence on how their children think about the future and perform in school continues through adolescence. Interestingly, after following 500 black and white children from 7th through 11th grades, it showed that “parents do matter, especially in adolescence, when children decide whether or not they want to go to college and begin thinking about what jobs they'd like to have as adults,” according to Nancy E. Hill, associate professor of social psychology. If you are a parent of a middle or high school student, your days of parent involvement are NOT over. This may be the MOST important time to stay connected. And, if you are a parent of an elementary school student, there's no better time than now to show them you care about their educational experience.

The Wake County PTA Council, supporting 135 PTA Units and over 50,000 members across the county, is focusing heavily this year on child advocacy and parent involvement. Parent involvement is key to the success of ALL our children, and we will work hard to engage the community to support that effort. Visit the council's website at www.wakeptacouncil.org for more information on the council. And join your local pta unit at your school – it will make a difference in the educational success of your child.