Get Involved > Ways to Create Change

Ways to Create Change                   En español

A parent is the most important factor in creating change in the education.

1. The Parent truly cares. Who in the world has invested more love, energy and attention into their child than the parent of that child? A parent will go to lengths of support for their child that no academic will ever pursue.

2. The Parent has more to gain and lose. With the amount of investment in their child, a parent has much more to gain or lose with the quality of education their child receives. When a child graduates from elementary, middle or high school, the responsibility of teachers and administrators ends. Not for the parent. From the moment that child was born, the parents hopes and dreams that their child would have a better life than themselves became a reality. Parents continue their investment into college, and for the rest of their lives.

3. The Parent knows the child better than anyone else, including the child’s teachers. The parent lives with the child, grows the child, and shapes the child. A parent understands the child’s environment better than anyone, understands his/her proclivities and personality better than anyone, and knows how to best motivate the child.

4. The Parent wants a win-win. Academics can often become overly invested in a theory, practice or model. They’re driven by research and “best practices”. A parent is driven by one thing: what’s best for my child. They want to partner with academics, teachers and administrators to find the best possible way to educate their child.

5. Parents make a difference. Study after study indicates that parental involvement leads to better achievement by their children. This not only extends to academic success, but also translates into positive overall behavior. The more intensive the involvement by parents, the higher the achievement. While there’s no doubt a great teacher makes a difference, the research clearly indicates that parental involvement is the difference-maker.