Public schools in wealthy communities enjoy the tremendous benefit of parental involvement, which is another very important factor affecting student performance. In many public schools, parent volunteers perform many duties that enrich the school. They tutor, they read with students, they assist in classrooms. They also provide additional money and resources to cover expenses not paid for by public funds.
In poorer communities, there is less parental involvement. Many parents may not have the excess time, resources, and funds to contribute to their local school. As a result, the volunteerism that enriches the wealthier schools is not present. Nonetheless, parents of students in less wealthy districts can still support their local schools in a number of ways:
1) The most important support all parents give schools is the taxes that they pay. Parents must explain to their children that the public education that they receive is not "free" but comes at the expense of hardworking and tax-paying parents. Parents holding two jobs are particularly heroic for their contribution to their children's education.
2) All parents can maintain good communication with the school by providing their phone numbers and their cell phone numbers to their children's teachers.
3) Parents can requests from the school classes to improve their parenting, communication, and computer skills. They can also request afterschool programs, tutoring programs, and more guidance counselors to help their children.
4) Parents can attend important meetings and school events.
5) Parents can also vote and consider running in school board elections.
