Here you will find all the information you need to Volunteer and become involved in your student's school.  We encourage Parental Engagement here at PLC and WE NEED YOU!  Volunteer today!

BENEFITS OF PARENT ENGAGEMENT IN SCHOOLS

Parent volunteering can take many forms, from donating time to set up school events to serving as the school’s crossing guard. While the level of parent and student involvement depends on the school itself, it’s nearly ubiquitous in school systems across the country today. Why?

1. IMPROVED EDUCATION FOR STUDENTS

Studies show that parent involvement both in class and in school can improve student learning, as well as overall school standards. According to the Southwest Educational Development Library, students with involved parents are more likely to have:

·       Higher grades

·       Goals for higher education

·       Fewer behavioral struggles

·       Better attendance

SchoolFamily.com also finds that students with “highly engaged parents” both in school and out are 30 percent more successful in school (based on GPA, attendance, and test scores).

2. IMPROVED SCHOOL FUNCTION

Student standards and test scores are often the biggest marker of a school’s success, but parent volunteers help keep many schools afloat. According to the same study by the Southwest Educational Development Library, engaged parents help:

·       Teachers feel less overwhelmed

·       Improve the reputation of the school in the community

·       Increase school ratings

·       Support administrative staff

Many schools have found this to be true, which is why they have parental volunteering as a major cornerstone of their enrollment process.

3. STUDENTS UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION AND VOLUNTEERISM

Seeing parents and communities deeply involved in their education has a major impact on students. In fact, students in a 2002 study were found to have a more positive attitude towards school when they saw their parents volunteering on campus.

Other studies of parent volunteers also find that children are more likely to follow in their parents’ footsteps. By giving time to the school, parents are instilling a sense of civic duty that makes an impact. Students with volunteer parents have more volunteer hours than other children and the odds are higher that these children will grow up to be adult volunteers.

4. BETTER SUPPORT FOR STRUGGLING STUDENTS AND FAMILIES

There are obvious gaps in the U.S. education system, especially in large urban areas with low income. Schools that have higher parent engagement are a huge asset to these areas because they are a source of support for both students and their parents.

With more parents volunteering, one study found that schools could “address obstacles to family and community involvement to realize the benefits associated with family and community involvement.” Essentially, the two go hand-in-hand. Supporting the school ecosystem helps supports families and communities as a whole, and vice-versa.

5. BETTER ENROLLMENT AND FUNDING FOR SCHOOLS

For many families and parents, the reputation of community and heavy parent involvement in a school is actually a huge reason for enrolling. A sense of community and a close involvement with their children’s education is a highly motivating factor.

If you’re a school administrator or parent who has seen the benefits of parent volunteering in action, now is a great time to start asking more volunteers to sign up. With the 2017-2018 school season upon us, there are a number of ways to convince parents to start volunteering.

From: http://get.noblehour.com/noblehourblog/2017/7/5/2s1g2qu9pu83i4ghe3oozv9cmky9cy