By University of Phoenix
According to a national K-12 teacher survey, more than a third of teachers think parental involvement can help address recruitment and retention in the educator ranks
PHOENIX, Oct. 24, 2016 — Parental involvement in the classroom is a well-known strategy to boost student achievement[1], but more than 6-in-10 (62 percent) K-12 teachers say fewer than a quarter of parents get involved in the classroom[2], according to a recent University of Phoenix® College of Education survey conducted online by Harris Poll of 1,005 K-12 teachers nationwide.
When asked what would attract more qualified educators to the field, 18 percent of K-12 teachers want more parent involvement in the classroom, with 21 percent of K-5 teachers seeing the value for this. To improve teacher retention, almost 30 percent said that programs encouraging parent participation in schools and classrooms was a potential solution.
The survey data highlights the unique opportunity parents have to become more involved in their children’s classrooms to make an impact on their learning and classroom experience.
“Parents are the first teachers of their children, and they play an integral role in their education both inside and outside of the classroom,” said Pamela Roggeman, Ed.D., academic dean for University of Phoenix College of Education and former K-12 teacher. “Communication between parents and teachers is critical to student success. As a former high school teacher, I saw first-hand how a culture of collaboration improved student outcomes and teacher satisfaction.”
How Teachers Want Parents to Get Involved
When asked about ways teachers would like parents involved in the classroom, they cited the following:
“Often parents think that to be involved in their child’s learning they need to spend time in their child’s classroom, but when you ask teachers, it’s often much more simple and boils down to one thing: communication,” continued Roggeman. “The most impactful thing parents can do to stay engaged in their child’s learning is to have open dialogue and communication with their child’s teacher throughout the year. This allows parents to have a better understanding of their child’s progression and can help parents support the academic growth of their child through at-home activities to supplement what’s being done in the classroom.”
After School Advice: A Tutorial on Increasing Parent-Teacher Communication Outside the Classroom
Keeping up regular communication with a child’s teacher can be challenging for parents, particularly when balancing work, personal and family responsibilities. To help, Roggeman suggests the following simple practices for parents to increase communication with their child’s educators:
Survey Methodology
This survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Poll on behalf of University of Phoenix between April 14 and 25, 2016. Respondents included 1,005 U.S. residents employed full-time as teachers in grades K-12 who have at least an undergraduate degree. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables, please contact Amanda Barchilon at amanda.barchilon@apollo.edu.
About University of Phoenix® College of Education
University of Phoenix College of Education has been educating teachers and school administrators for more than 30 years. The College of Education provides bachelor’s and master’s degree programs for individuals who want to become teachers or current educators and administrators seeking advanced degrees to strengthen their professional knowledge. With education programs available throughout most of the U.S., the College of Education has a distinct grasp of the national education picture and priorities for teacher preparation. Faculty members on average bring more than 17 years of professional experience to the classroom. For more information, visit phoenix.edu/education.
About University of Phoenix
University of Phoenix is constantly innovating to help working adults move efficiently from education to careers in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant and engaging courses, and interactive learning can help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. As a subsidiary of Apollo Education Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: APOL), University of Phoenix serves a diverse student population, offering associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs from campuses and learning centers across the U.S. as well as online throughout the world. For more information, visit phoenix.edu.
[1] Center for Public Education: Back to school: How parent involvement affects student achievement (full report) August 30, 2011: http://www.centerforpubliceducation.org/Main-Menu/Public-education/Parent-Involvement/Parent-Involvement.html
[2] Survey of 1,005 U.S. full-time employed K-12 teachers who have at least an undergraduate degree conducted online within the United States by Harris Poll on behalf of University of Phoenix between April 14 and 25, 2016. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables, contact Amanda Barchilon at amanda.barchilon@apollo.edu.