What Parents Do

% of parents who have done the following in recent years:

Class trip or party 57%

Behavior and discipline decisions 7%

Financial input 15%

Curriculum planning 19%

Staff hiring involvement 20%

Source: Public Agenda

SUPERINTENDENTS' VIEWS

87% of superintendents say, "Schools are more responsive to active, vocal parents."

Source: Public Agenda

In a recent Gallup/Phi Delta Kappa survey, 32% of respondents said "parent involvement" could prevent future school shootings.

www.gallup.com

"Acted as a volunteer or served on a committee"

Racial Relationship

White . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43%

Black . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Hispanic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

Parent's Highest Education Level

Less than high school . . . . . . . . .13%

High school diploma

or equivalent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Some college . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37

Bachelor's degree . . . . . . . . . . . .50

Graduate/professional school . . . .54

Household Income

10,000 or less . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21%

10,001-20,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

20,001-35,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

35,001-50,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . .39

More than $50,000 . . . . . . . . . . .50

Source: NCES

MANAGING SCHOOLS

Which is the better approach?

To get parents directly involved in running the school, with input in hiring, budgeting and curriculum:

Parents 16% Teachers 5%

Or, to get parents more involved in their children's education at home by such things as limiting TV and checking homework: Parents 72% Teachers 87%

Source: Public Agenda

38% of parents say they have never been told how they might become more involved at school. Source: National Institute for Literacy, www.nifl.gov

Parents are AWOL

% of teachers who say:

It's always the same group of parents who are helping out at school 98%

Too many parents don't know what's going on with their child's education 78

More parental involvement would help my students be more successful in school 65

Parental involvement in my school is excellent or good 34

Parental involvement is strong in my high school 19

Source: Public Agenda, www.publicagenda.org