Urban Poverty in the United States

Poverty in the United States The poverty statistics for children in this country have reached alarming rates with a staggering 16 million children living at or below the poverty line in 2016. The reasons for these conditions are varied and don’t always require families to be out of work. Many of these parents are working, but their wages are too … Read More

The Changes in Parent Involvement Expectations Over 40 Years

The importance of education cannot be overstated. The annual American Education Week (AEW) that takes place every November is a reminder of the vital role getting an education plays in this country. The week was founded in 1921 by the National Education Association after it was discovered that 25% of World War I draftees lacked an ability to read. Among the many … Read More

How Does Parent Involvement Affect Student Achievement?

Parental involvement is one of the core components that have been shown to provide a healthy and positive effect on the academic achievement levels of children in grades K-12. The results have been almost unanimous among a variety of studies demonstrating improved grades and exam scores, high attendance and graduation rates, and advanced behavioral skills among students whose parents play … Read More

Parent Involvement and the New Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)

Parent Involvement and the New Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) The new Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) has important family and parent involvement provisions embedded in the reauthorization by Congress. As Michele Brooks, a former assistant superintendent of family engagement for Boston Public Schools, writes on the Harvard Family Research Project site this emphasis on family involvement opens a window … Read More