How Parents Can Help Students Stay in School

The following is a partial list of ways parents can help students stay in school. The key to regular attendance is parent involvement. When parents are concerned about the educational experience, and take an active interest in the educational process, their children are less likely to have attendance problems and are more likely to graduate.

1. Make education a family priority.
2. Build the child’s self-confidence as a student by recognizing when he or she does well in school.
3. Help the child develop good study and work habits.
4. Develop a system of praise and rewards for good study habits, good grades, and other good school-related behaviors.
5. Schedule a daily period of home study time.
6. Help with homework when needed.
7. Meet the child’s teachers and other school personnel. They can provide important insights into the child’s school performance and suggest ways for improvement.
8. Find ways to discuss issues, subjects and course materials being covered at school.
9. Help the child develop an interest in extra-curricular school activities such as sports, band, clubs, etc.
10. Get the child tutorial help with subjects that pose learning difficulties.
11. Help the child develop and achieve academic goals.
12. Emphasize the important role education plays throughout life.
13. Get involved with the P.T.A., P.T.O. , or school board in order to better understand and help change the problems related to school attendance.
14. Develop a phone-in policy with the school to check on the child’s daily attendance, or have the person in charge of school attendance alert you about non-attendance.
15. Explain how dropouts have more trouble getting and keeping jobs and make less money that graduates.
16. Develop a school or community program designed to educate parents, taxpayers and students about the topic of school attendance.