A recent New York Times op-ed claimed that parental involvement isn’t important to student achievement and may hamper kids’ success in school. Controversy draws readers, but an article in NEA Today explains the many problems with this assertion and the study the op-ed authors cite.
Anne Henderson, a leading expert on family and community engagement who spoke earlier this year at a community forum sponsored by CEA and other education groups, is quoted in the NEA Today piece as saying, “There is a large body of reliable research that shows well-designed family engagement practices are associated with higher grades, higher test scores, better attendance, more motivation, and moving onto post-secondary education.”
Henderson said, “The field has moved on to advocate for much higher impact strategies that use a broader and more inclusive definition of family engagement rather than just ‘parent involvement.'”
To learn more about this new approach to family and community engagement, register for the community forum, Linking for Learning, May 6, in East Hartford. The keynote speaker, Karen Mapp, is a co-author with Henderson of the popular book Beyond the Bake Sale: The Essential Guide to Family/School Partnerships. Click here to learn more and here to register for the forum.
http://youtu.be/R0Gg_2LZUJM
