Parental Involvement Benefits Elementary School Childrens Essay

Parental Involvement Benefits Elementary School Childrens Parental involvement has many positive effects on both child and parent. Some of the benefits of parental involvement for children are a significantly increased cognitive development, an improvement in the child’s motivation, a stronger parent-child relationship and, of course, increased academic achievement. Some of the benefits parental involvement has on parents are gaining a more positive attitude about themselves and their parenting skills, increased self-confidence and an increased satisfaction about their child’s school and faculty at the school (Becher, 2001). There are many benefits to parents’ involvement in their elementary school child’s life, but, possibly the most important benefit is in helping the child’s academic achievement. First of all, why the recent interest in parent involvement? Many might give credit to Section 1118 of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. This section of â€Å"No Child Left Behind† requires any school district in the United States that receives Title I, Part A funds to execute programs, activities, and events that enable parents to get involved. Title I forces school districts to make a strong effort to communicate with and get feedback from parents who want to be involved in the programs, activities and events directed towards parent involvement. The districts are required to provide equal involvement opportunities for all parents, including those who speak limited English, are disabled, and parents of migratory children. Every school district is required to develop together, agree on with and distribute to parents the districts plan on parent involvement programs (â€Å"No Child Left Behind†, 2002).... ... Power. New York: Hyperion. This is a book I came across at the Towson public library. Kirshbaum starts off with a chapter full of various studies that have been done that prove how beneficial parent involvement is. The book is then broken down into four sections of ninety different ways parents can get involved in their child’s life and have their child get the most out of their education. Peterson, D. (1989). Parent involvement in the education process. ERIC Digest EA 43. Retrieved April 3, 2003, from http://www.ericfacility.net/ericdigests/ed312776.html This article briefly discusses why parent involvement is so important. Peterson then discusses how parent involvement is particularly beneficial for at-risk children. Peterson also mentions how parents can get involved and how parent-involvement programs can be implemented on a district wide basis.