Parent involvement in high school is critical for success PDF Print E-mail
In elementary school, it's easy to get involved with your child's education. You can chaperone field trips or volunteer in the classroom. In high school, however, your teen may discourage your involvement.

But your involvement is still very important! When parents are involved in high school:

  • Students are better readers.
  • Student attendance improves.
  • Student dropout rates go down.
  • Students have more positive attitudes about school and learning.

So what can you do? Don't worry--it is possible to maintain your involvement in your teen's education without causing her to die of embarrassment. You can:

  • Stay in touch with your teen's teachers. Meet them at least once during the year. Then communicate through notes, email or phone messages.
  • Talk about school. Ask your teen what she's learning in her classes. Listen to her responses.
  • Attend school events--especially if your teen is participating in the event. This shows your teen that you think school is important and that you care about her education.
  • Encourage regular study hours. Be sure that your teen has a quiet, comfortable place to study.
  • Provide help--offer to proofread a paper before your teen hands it in. It's a great way to see firsthand what she's reading and thinking about.

Reprinted with permission from the September 2009 issue of Parents Still make the difference!® (High School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2009 The Parent Institute®, a division of NIS, Inc. Source: "Family Engagement," National Dropout Prevention Network/Center, www.dropoutprevention.org/effstrat/family_engagement/overview.htm.