Empowering Parents:

Policy & Practice

by Catherine Paglin

The 2001 reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, No Child Left Behind (NCLB), is complicated legislation with profound implications for public education. A topical summary from NWREL sheds light on an important aspect of this legislation: parent involvement in schools. Parental Involvement Under the New Title I & Title III: From Compliance to Effective Practice outlines parent-related requirements of NCLB and discusses how these can support effective overall involvement programs.

No Child Left Behind substantially expands the rights and roles of parents. The new law, says the summary, "envisions parents not only as participants, but also as informed and empowered decisionmakers in their children’s education." So that parents may become fully informed decisionmakers, NCLB directs schools, districts, or the state, as the case may be, to meet requirements including the following:

Publish "report cards" charting academic progress at the school, district, and state levels, and report each child’s performance on state assessments.
Inform parents at Title I schools if their child’s teacher is not "highly qualified."
Notify parents at low-performing Title I schools about improvement efforts, transfer options, transportation funds, and their child’s eligibility for supplemental services such as private tutoring. Identify and describe approved service providers.
Involve parents in school-level decisionmaking bodies and policymaking.

While it’s only natural for schools to focus on meeting legal requirements such as these, the summary cautions that "strict compliance with the law will not alone ensure deeper connections with parents." Ideally, meeting the requirements should be part of a broader plan that enhances school-family communication and meets the needs of each school community.

The new NCLB requirements, though challenging for schools and districts, have potential to create stronger community connections. For instance, as districts identify and monitor providers of supplemental services such as tutoring, they could develop partnerships with community groups and private providers.

Sidebars in this summary address five parent involvement issues: defining parent involvement, the need for scientifically based parental involvement research, meaningful program evaluation, balancing legal accountability with meaningful involvement, and reaching marginalized communities. The summary includes a list of resources at NWREL and elsewhere that can provide help and information on these issues.

The Parental Involvement topical summary is available in limited quantities. For copies, call 503-275-9720 or e-mail info@nwrel.org. The document may also be found online at www.nwrel.org/free.