National Commitment to Parent Role in Schools Sought

By Meg Sommerfeld

RACINE, WIS.--Improving the magnitude and quality of parental and family involvement in public schools must become a national priority, leaders of major national education associations said at a "Parental Involvement Summit'' convened here last week by the National PTA.

Representatives of 23 such groups adopted a mission statement calling parental involvement "essential for the positive emotional and social development, cultural growth, and academic achievement of every child.''

"As the nation focuses on educational excellence,'' the statement continues, "parent/family involvement must be aggressively pursued and supported by homes, schools, communities, businesses, organizations, and government entities by working together in...