Parent Involvement Components in Principal Preparation Programs: a Survey of How School Principals Are Prepared to Work with Parents

Research indicates that parental involvement is a significant component of school reform within the United States and is utilized to better understand and explain the variation in schooling outcomes. It is critical to school principals because parental involvement is acknowledged to be a central variable associated with success in schools. The principal is required to establish and promote the connections between schools and home and to build linkages that cultivate learning. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which institutions across California with commission-approved preliminary administrative services credential programs include parent involvement components. A review of the findings revealed that (a) across California, within the public, private, and other institutions as of July 26, 2006, 100% of responding institutions are implementing parent involvement components, (b) there is considerable variation in the types of parent involvement activities and courses into which such parent involvement components are included, and (c) the general acknowledgement of the great import and influence that parent involvement has to and on student overall achievement.