Parents don’t have to be classroom volunteers or education experts to play an important role in their children’s learning. But new international data suggests that family involvement in education is slipping, raising questions about what parents can do to reconnect with their kids’ school lives.
New results from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) suggest that parental interest in children’s education is declining across many wealthy countries. More than 760,000 15-year-olds in dozens of countries participated in the latest assessment, and almost every country reported a decline in family support compared with 2022.
The survey measured involvement through questions about whether parents talk with their children about schoolwork and take an interest in what they are learning. The decline was particularly noticeable among boys, suggesting that some families may be becoming less connected to their children’s educational experiences.
The findings are particularly notable because students who said a family member asked them at least weekly about their school day scored around 35 points higher in science—equivalent to more than a year and a half of learning—than students whose families showed less interest. Andreas Schleicher of the OECD said, “Parents see themselves more as a client of the school, not as someone who takes personal interest.”
Why Parental Involvement Matters
Being involved in a child’s education doesn’t necessarily mean monitoring every assignment or attending every school event. Research has found that positive parental involvement is associated with stronger academic performance, and one study of 158 seven-year-olds found that parental involvement was significantly associated with academic achievement even after accounting for children’s intelligence.
The research also points to two important connections: children whose parents were more involved tended to have stronger perceptions of their own academic abilities, while parental involvement was also associated with more positive student-teacher relationships. Those factors helped explain the relationship between family involvement and academic performance.
That doesn’t mean parents need to become substitute teachers. Showing interest, encouraging questions and communicating positively about school can help children understand that their education matters.
Simple Ways Parents Can Stay Involved
One of the easiest strategies for parents is to make school part of everyday conversation. Instead of simply asking whether homework is finished, parents can ask what their child learned, what they found interesting or whether anything at school was difficult.
Parents can also connect learning to everyday experiences, such as cooking, shopping, visiting museums, reading together or discussing current events. The Expanded Learning and Afterschool Project recommends building “trusting and respectful relationships” between families and educators while treating education as a collaborative responsibility.
For busy families, involvement can also happen outside the school building. Regular communication with teachers, attending occasional family events, helping with a project when possible or finding learning activities that fit a family’s schedule can all keep parents connected.
Most importantly, parents shouldn’t assume that involvement has to look the same for every family. Schools can face barriers including work schedules, transportation, language differences and other responsibilities, so meaningful involvement should be flexible enough to meet families where they are.
Meta description: New global education data suggests parental involvement is declining, but simple strategies can help parents reconnect with their children’s learning and support academic success.
SEO keywords: parental involvement in education, parents and education, involved parents, parent involvement in school, children’s education, parenting and school, student academic success, family engagement in education, education tips for parents, supporting kids in school
