ODYSSEYWARE

According to a recent article in the Mercury News, a school district in California is considering a proposal that will require families of every student enrolled to “volunteer” at least 30 hours a year at their child’s school.

San Jose’s Alum Rock Union School District is definitely looking beyond student outcomes to the sources that affect achievement.

Studies on the topic of student achievement repeatedly suggest that students whose parents are involved in their education get better grades, have better attendance, have better self esteem, show a decreased use of drugs and alcohol, and eventually graduate.

Gustavo Gonzales, trustee in the district, was quoted in the article:

We’re trying to create a culture of strong parent-guardian-family participation in schools.

In Walberg’s 1984 review of 29 studies of school-parent programs, research suggested that family participation in education was twice as predictive of students’ academic success as family socioeconomic status. Some of the more intensive programs had effects that were ten times greater than other factors. Families, it seems, foster children’s achievement when they provide a positive educational experience through strong, consistent values about the importance of education; demonstrate a willingness to help children and intervene at school; and become involved.

While encouraging parental involvement is a noble aim, many parents may feel pushed up against the wall. In the poorer schools, parents simply don’t have the leisure time to commit. For those parents, the school is encouraging families who are available to help with extra hours.

Because ODYSSEYWARE is online and available anytime, parents are able to get involved in their child’s learning. When their kids log on to access the online learning environment, they can see the lessons, offer assistance, but most of all, encourage students to become engaged in learning. As parents, it’s our job to be sure our kids know the importance of education and that we do, indeed, care.

The highest aim of the Alum Rock program is not to help the schools directly, but to assure students that their parents do indeed care about their education. While it’s pretty clear that parental involvement in education has a positive effect, mandating volunteerism may be a course in futility in some districts. Kudos to Alum Rock for stoking the fire.