Parent engagement in schools means parents and school staff working together to support and improve the learning, development and wellbeing of children and adolescents.
What is Parent Engagement?
In Australia, “parental involvement” is typically understood as being present at school through activities such as P&F groups, tuckshop and classroom volunteer programs. In contrast “parental engagement” refers to parents taking an interest in and being involved in their child’s learning. Some North American web sites use involvement and engagement interchangeably.
NEW: An implementation guide for school communities
The Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY) draws from a wide body of research to provide evidence and examples of how you can make parent and family engagement relevant to your school and community. The guide was released in January 2020. |WATCH A WEBINAR ON THE REPORT or READ THE REPORT
Who Guides us in Parental Engagement?
Queensland
Griffith University
Griffith University academics Dr Linda Willis and Professor Beryl Exley have undertaken a range of research in the field of parent engagement and worked with schools in the state, Catholic and independent schooling sectors in Queensland | LEARN MORE
Queensland Government
The Queensland Government has developed a range of resources, supporting information and a framework on parental engagement in Queensland state schools | LEARN MORE
Australia
Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY)
ARACY is the peak body funded by the Australian Government to support parent engagement | LEARN MORE
Australian Government
The Australian Government Department of Education had developed a range of resources and information on parent engagement and how parents can support their children to do their best at school | LEARN MORE
International
Global Family Research Project
This is a leading research group that believes for all children to succeed, powerful family and community engagement and high-performing schools are essential | LEARN MORE
Harvard Graduate School of Education
Senior lecturer on education Dr Karen Mapp runs a six-week parent engagement course through edX | LEARN MORE
National Network of Partnership Schools
Based at John Hopkins University and led by Dr Joyce Epstein, this is a network of schools striving to improve student learning through parent teacher partnerships | LEARN MORE
People for Education
Research and evidence-based resources supporting parents and schools in implementing effective parental engagement. Having high expectations, talking about school, reading together and developing positive attitudes and work habits are seen as the four critical elements parents can foster in their homes | LEARN MORE
Parental Engagement Research, Articles & Resources
Australia
Parental engagement: Australaisan research summary
The Evidence for Learning presents research evidence on parental engagement in the Australasian context HERE and the impact on student outcomes HERE.
Parent engagement in schools: Queensland research project
This Queensland-based research project presents findings from a four-year study examining the role of leaders in parent-school-community engagement | LEARN MORE
Engaging parents in their child’s learning and wellbeing: Change, continuity and COVID-19
A research paper by Griffith University parent engagement experts Dr Linda Willis and Professor Beryl Exley examining parent engagement approaches by Queensland independent schools during the 2020 home learning period | LEARN MORE
Parental engagement in learning and schooling: lessons from research
This report provides a synopsis of the published literature relating to parental engagement in both the home and school environments. On the basis of the evidence in the literature, it identifies those approaches which have the greatest influence and impact on student outcomes | LEARN MORE
Education capital: defining, progressing and measuring parental engagement
Reports and resources prepared by ARACY for the ACT Government that provide an evidence-based understanding of parental engagement – what it is, why it matters, and how best to foster it | LEARN MORE
Engaging parents in schools and building parent school partnerships: the role of school and parent organisation leadership
This research article by Queensland academics explores how a positive school climate and principal leadership are pivotal to building parent-school partnerships and supporting parent engagement in child learning more generally. Findings from surveys distributed to principals and presidents of parent organisations in 1,233 Queensland state schools are evaluated | LEARN MORE
Through Growth to Achievement: Report of the Review to Achieve Educational Excellence in Australian Schools
This report by the David Gonsk-led review panel of education experts, contains a range of recommendations to lift student outcomes in Australian schools. Parent engagement features in recommendation 2 of the report | LEARN MORE
International
Working with parents to support children’s learning
UK-based Education and Endowment Foundation produced a guidance report aimed at senior education leaders who are thinking about their school’s approach to engaging parents | LEARN MORE
Reflections on parent engagement in student learning: Strategies for schools and families
A reflections piece written by internationally renowned Canadian academic and author, Dr Linda Kaser containing her research, experience and insights on parent engagement | LEARN MORE
Family and community engagement
Public Policy Institute of California prepared this paper on family engagement practices in schools | LEARN MORE
Doing what matters most: how parents can help their children succeed at school
People for Education have reviewed past studies, undertaken their own research and recommended a range of activities schools can undertake to support parent engagement in education | LEARN MORE
They’ve also developed practical advice for school communities:
Tip sheet for principals| LEARN MORE
Tip sheet for teachers | LEARN MORE
Tip sheet for parents | LEARN MORE
Working with families, supporting student learning
This monograph by the Ontario Ministry of Education in Canada argues that engaging parents in the life of the school yields positive benefits and rewards for families and schools | LEARN MORE
Narrowing the achievement gap – parental engagement with children’s learning
This book by UK parental engagement expert and Lecturer in Educational Leadership and Management at the University of Bath, Janet Goodall, proposes a radical change to the conception of learning, education and schooling. It arguest that parental engagement is the best lever we have for school improvement and closing the achievement gap | LEARN MORE
Research for teachers, #1 parent engagement
This article by Canadian parent engagement expert Debbie Pushor from the University of Saskatchewan, outlines research findings on parental engagement and three steps for schools to follow: 1) adopt a definition of parental engagement 2) pay attention to the knowledge parents and families hold and 3) use the knowledge from parents and families to engage with parents | LEARN MORE
Parental involvement to parental engagement: a continuum
This UK article tracing the continuum between parental involvement with schools, and parental engagement with children’s learning. It provides examples at each stage along the continuum | LEARN MORE
Review of best practice in parental engagement
A UK summary of best practice research on what works in parent engagement | LEARN MORE
Engaging parents in raising achievement: Do parents know they matter?
A UK research report on parental involvement and parental engagement outlining the impacts, the value of, barriers and implications | LEARN MORE