Parents As Partners in Schooling

Parents and family are every child's first educators, but their importance often goes unrecognized by the formal school system. As education - and the qualifications it offers - becomes more important, the realization is growing in many OECD countries that close cooperation between familiy and school helps children to learn more effectively. At the same time, a general political shift towards decentralization and local accountability means that many governments are aiming to give parents a more effective voice - perhaps by involving them in policy-making, or in school governance, or in supporting teachers in the classroom. Although not a panacea, the examples in this report suggest that partnerships between parents and educators can raise achievement levels - both in children and, in come cases, the parents themselves.