How to Help Your Child Succeed in School

Pretty much every family in the US has felt the strain the current economy puts on the family budget. Each time we fill up our car or buy groceries and clothes for our family we notice yet another price increase. How far will it go? Who knows! But the budgeting problems have reached state and federal government as well. There is less money to provide for state and federally funded programs and now the schools are beginning to feel the pinch as well. With tax hikes not desirable as constituents begin to feel economic hardships, state governments are looking into cutting funding across the board, including education. This happened in Kentucky where state education spending for the 2008-2010 education budget is bare bones with funding for extra programs severely curtailed. In turn local school districts have to at least temporarily cut programs and not renew selected staff contracts. With the nosedive in educational funding the level of education provided by our schools is bound to suffer as well. Low salaries will force qualified teachers to seek employment elsewhere. Cuts in teaching positions will greatly increase class sizes in turn lowering the quality of learning as the individual student receives less attention. Teaching materials will be scarcer as up-to-date equipment, textbooks and the like will be purchased less frequently. In order to succeed the burden will be on the individual student to learn more on his/her own. They will rely on their parents to help them. The key to success in a situation like this is most definitely parental involvement.

What can parents do to help their child succeed in schools? Parents have a variety of options to help their child along. And any parent, regardless of the personal financial situation, can get involved and help their child's education along.

Many parents who can afford it take the easy way out. They opt for private schools thinking that they provide a higher level of education quality. Unfortunately, this is not true for every private school. Additionally, private schools are struggling as well. Higher costs force them to increase tuition, which more and more parents can't afford. But financial aid sources also begin to dry up. At least the smaller class size will guarantee more time for individual attention. But the private schools, too, have begun to take cost cutting measures by cutting extra programs.

Private tutors are another way for parents to supplement their child's education. More and more companies pop-up offering exactly those services at an often high price. Therefore, this option, too, is more for those who still can afford it.

But not every parent can pay for private school and tutors. So what should a not so well to do parent do? The answer is a more direct involvement. This is something every parent regardless of their financial situation should do anyway, but it is even more imperative for those who cannot afford to buy an education for their child.

A recent study at the University of New Hampshire has proven what many parents already know: Students perform much better in school if the parents are involved in their child's education. The study is published in the spring 2008 issue of the "Journal of Human Resources." According to the study results parental involvement is so effective that schools would have to spend at least $1,000 more per student to accomplish the same result. This sends a strong message to the parents to get involved in order for their child to succeed in school despite the economic hardships schools are facing today.

How can a parent get involved? It starts at home. From the first day of school on parents should make school a priority for the child. Getting an education is important and a child should understand that. This means not to allow days off unless there is an urgent reason such a sickness. This also means that homework has a priority over playtime. Parents should take an active interest in what their child is studying in class. If necessary and if they have the necessary knowledge, parents should tutor their child and build on what they have learned in school.

But parents should also go further and take their efforts outside of the home and into the school. At the very least they should introduce themselves to the teacher and maintain an open line of communication. In today's world of cell phones and email, this really should not be a problem anymore. One doesn't need a parent-teacher conference to discuss a problem with the teacher.

Parents can do much more to enrich their child's school program, learning experience, and academic achievement. This is achieved by simply showing up for school functions such as an open house, where children show off their work. Parents can also take it a step further by becoming a volunteer at their child's school. Teachers appreciate any resource you can provide to the classroom may it be materials, your time, and/or your knowledge and experience.

The PTA is also a good way to get involved with your child's school. The PTA discusses and influences main school issues and holds fundraisers to provide equipment the school needs but cannot afford.

Lastly, in order to increase school funding, parents can get involved at the legislative level. They can take their protest of funding or program cuts not only to the school principal and superintendent but also to the school board and their state's education department. Finally, they can take their protest to the legislatures who with enough pressure from their constituents will more likely provide more funding for education in the next budget round.

After all, our kids are our future. We should strive to give them the best education possible. And we as parents need to make sure that our children get the education and academic achievement they deserve. Parents can achieve a lot by getting involved but they shouldn't be left alone in their quest.