Strategies That Promote Student Success and Wellness Through Parental Involvement and Engagement in K-12

Introduction

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (2018), children in U.S. schools spend approximately three to seven hours daily in school. Depending on the grade level, children spend a significant amount of their daily hours not only in school but also engaged in school-related activities. When children are young, parental involvement and engagement are beneficial and often necessary to support their education. Being involved in their children’s education can help positively impact their child’s morale, behavior, attitude, and academic achievement (Sapungan & Sapungan, 2014). Thus, effective collaboration between schools and parents is vital and helps ensure students’ educational success (Jeynes, 2003). In 2021, an estimated 54.2 million students from kindergarten through high school attended a U.S. school. Of these K-12 students, about 26 million were White, 6.9 million were Black, 2.7 million Asian, and 13.9 million Hispanic. A study by Jeynes (2003) reported a significant outcome in parental involvement for minority groups. While most K–12 students attending U.S. schools are born in the U.S., an estimated 2.4 million were foreign-born (Fabina et al., 2023). Parental involvement and engagement strategies may also benefit foreign-born families and those with language barriers.

Researchers have examined parental involvement in their children’s education. In 2019, the National Center for Education Statistics surveyed parents and families on their involvement in their children’s education across all 50 United States. This study reported that school communication with parents of children in kindergarten through grade 12 occurred most frequently (89%) through school-wide newsletters, memos, emails, and notices (Hanson & Pugliese, 2020). While parental involvement varies across schools, the National Center for Education Statistics reported percentages of overall parental and family participation in activities such as general school or PTA functions (89%), parent-teacher conferences (75%), school events (79%), volunteering or serving on a school committee (43%), participation in school fundraising (57%), and meeting with a guidance counselor (33%) (Hanson & Pugliese, 2020). Active and meaningful parent engagement in their children’s educational journey not only leads to better academic outcomes but also enhances children’s overall quality of life. Schools have ways to connect with parents and encourage their involvement to ensure their children’s success. By working together, schools and parents can create a supportive and nurturing environment that enables students to achieve their full potential.

Parents play a vital role in their children’s development including their social, peer, and academic experiences. This chapter discusses the role of parents in their children’s educational journey. It discusses risk and protective factors, parental practices and their contribution to children and adolescents’ externalizing behaviors, as well as child and adolescent mental health issues, academic performance, parental involvement, and victimization. The chapter culminates with recommendations for school administration on ways to promote parental engagement to maximize student success and wellness.