What Research Says On Parental Involvement in Children's Education: Epstein's Framework

Epstein's Framework of Six Types of Involvement

PARENTING: Help all families establish home environments to support children as students.

• Parent education and other courses or training for parents (e.g., GED, college credit, family literacy).

• Family support programs to assist families with health, nutrition, and other services.

• Home visits at transition points to pre-school, elementary, middle, and high school.

COMMUNICATING: Design effective forms of school-to-home and home-to-school communications about school programs and children's progress.

• Conferences with every parent at least once a year.
• Language translators to assist families as needed.
• Regular schedule of useful notices, memos, phone calls, newsletters, and other communications.

VOLUNTEERING: Recruit and organize parent help and support.

• School and classroom volunteer program to help teachers, administrators, students, and other parents.

• Parent room or family center for volunteer work, meetings, and resources for families.

• Annual postcard survey to identify all available talents, times, and locations of volunteers. 

LEARNING AT HOME: Provide information and ideas to families about how to help students at home with homework and other curriculum-related activities, decisions, and planning.

• Information for families on skills required for students in all subjects at each grade.

• Information on homework policies and how to monitor and discuss school at home.

• Family participation in setting student goals each year and in planning for college or work.

DECISION MAKING: Include parents in school decisions, developing parent leaders and representatives.

• Active PTA/PTO or other parent organizations, advisory councils, or committees for parent leadership and participation.

• Independent advocacy groups to lobby and work for school reform and improvements.

• Networks to link all families with parent representatives.

COLLABORATING WITH COMMUNITY: Identify and integrate resources and services from the community to strengthen school programs, family practices, and student learning and development.

• Information for students and families on community health, cultural, recreational, social support, and other programs/services.

• Information on community activities that link to learning skills and talents, including summer programs for students.