New Research on School Councils and Parental Involvement

By Gord Kerr

New research on school councils indicates that there is a link between a council and principal focused on stimulating parental involvement and the rates of parental participation in various types of involvement.  The research was conducted here in Ontario earlier this year and validates the recommendations of the Education Improvement Commission (1998) and of the Parent Voice in Education Project (2005) that school councils increasingly focus on stimulating parental involvement within their school communities in order to have an impact on student learning. 

The findings are significant for several key reasons.  First, there is an enormous body of evidence that indicates a positive impact on student learning when parents are involved in their children’s education.  With a proven ability for a council and principal to generate higher rates of parental involvement, the research demonstrates the linkage that confirms how a school council can have an indirect but positive impact on student learning.  Second, parental involvement is increasingly becoming recognized as an educational priority in Ontario, by both educators and parents, and by the Minister of Education.  A focus on stimulating parental involvement provides school councils, principals and teachers with an opportunity to work together towards a common goal, engage in a productive and healthy dialogue and a build a sense of team.  For some councils and principals, this provides a new path and an ability to leave behind some of the baggage of the past.  Third, the research demonstrates how school council volunteers can make a meaningful difference toward the goal of improving student learning.  This is critical for one simple reason, why would anyone become involved as a volunteer, or stay involved as a volunteer without an ability to make a difference?  Few volunteers want to sign up to have their time and talent wasted

How to stimulate helpful parental involvement

Within our schools across Ontario, there are already a host of opportunities and creative programs designed to create a welcoming and informative atmosphere to encourage helpful forms of parental involvement.  While the Ministry of Education continues to develop its plans and programs to further advance this field, most of the work of advancing parental involvement takes place within our schools every day, led by dedicated principals, members of the school staff and collaborative school councils.  Over the course of this school year, articles in this space will be focused on ‘how’ a school council can collaborate with principals, vice-principals and teachers to stimulate helpful parental involvement. 

Encouraging parents to attend school events

By the time you read this, most schools will have experienced the annual Meet-the-Teacher Night, one of the first opportunities in every school year to set the tone for the school and bring both parents and students to the school.  When parents attend the school for events, it sends a powerful, reinforcing message to children that parents are interested in the school, and want to know more about where their children spend their day.  The message received by the child is “I am important, and this place is important.” 

If you are happy with the way this years evening worked out, then plan to do it again next year.  If you believe it could be better, consider striking a small sub-committee now, comprised of both teachers and parents, to look at ways to improve the event for next year while the event is still fresh in everyone’s memory.  The group can ask questions about what worked well, what didn’t work so well, and how can the event be changed to improve the experience for teachers, parents and students?  It may even be possible to leverage this information to improve the experience in attending other school events.  How was the parking experience?  How far in advance did the information go home to let parents know about the event?  Was the information posted on a school sign?

Parents can often be encouraged to attend events where their children are involved, for example, sporting events, school plays, concerts, awards assemblies and even curriculum focused nights that involve both a parent and a child.  One of the creative events that I recently encountered was called ‘Snuggle Up and Read’, a literacy event at the school that encouraged parents and children to come to the school to literally Snuggle Up and Read.  It achieved several objectives, it raised some money for the school (small fee at the door), it created a fun activity that brought parents and children to the school, and it gave parents some helpful information about the importance of reading to their children at home.  For many parents, school events are a way of doing something together with their children, and it sure beats having to arrange and pay for a babysitter to attend an event where children are not welcome.  If you have a creative event at your school that involves both parents and children, send me an e-mail at gkerr@schoolcouncils.net.  Other councils would love to hear about your great events.  

The next article will focus on effective volunteer management, one of the key areas where a school council can collaborate with principals, vice-principals and teachers to stimulate helpful forms of parental involvement.   

Gord Kerr was one of 20 parents that served on the Parent Voice in Education Project.  He continues to research practical methods for advancing parental involvement and improving the effectiveness of Ontario’s school council system.  For more information, please visit www.schoolcouncils.net. © 2005 Ontario School Council Support Centre.

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Last modified: September 13, 2007