A recent meta-analysis published in Educational Research Review examined the effects of parental involvement on student achievement.
 

A total of 37 out of 5,000 studies that were reviewed met the authors' selection criteria, with the 37 studies examining more than 80,000 students and their families.

To be included, studies had to:

• Take place between kindergarten and twelfth grade
   
• Be published between 2000-2013
   
• Report parent participation in their children's education, but not as part of a designated program
   
• Examine the effects of parent involvement on academic achievement quantitatively

Because each study looked at different variables affecting achievement outcomes, as well as different populations affected, the authors broke down each study into independent analytical units, calculating 108 effect sizes for comparison.

They found that parental expectations had the largest influence on children's academic achievement, followed by discussing school activities with children and helping them develop reading habits. Homework supervision and participation in school activities demonstrated the least effect.

Johns Hopkins University 

Research in Brief

News Blast