Nearly one-quarter of American high-school students believe that parents in their neighborhoods rarely are involved in preparing their children for school and schoolwork, a national survey concludes.
The survey, released last month by the National Association of Secondary School Principals and Sylvan Learning Centers, found that only 14 percent of those polled said local parents were heavily involved in their children’s education. Forty-four percent said parents were somewhat involved, and 6 percent said they were not at all involved. Twelve percent had no response.
The survey is based on the responses of 1,365 11th and 12th graders from 20 high schools nationwide.
Student also rated the importance of various steps parents might take to help their children be more successful in school. They most strongly supported actions outside of school itself--such as helping with homework, setting study rules, and assisting with study resources--rather than such in-school activities as volunteer work, parent-teacher-association involvement, and regular meetings with teachers and counselors.
Copies of the survey, “Voices From the Classroom,’' are available for $3 each by calling Sylvan Learning Centers at (800) 627-4276.
