Senate Education Committee Considers Parental Involvement Proposal

A Senate committee is considering a bill that would require the State Board of Education to adopt a policy encouraging parental involvement in the education of their children. Supporters of the legislation claim parental involvement in a child’s education is the best way to help that child’s classroom performance. Among the supporters: Missouri PTA President Tina Zubeck, who says school districts with parental involvement requirements can play vital roles in eliminating barriers between parents and their children. Zubeck says students who benefit from parental involvement have higher test scores, higher attendance rates, lower drop-out rates, and greater post-secondary enrollment. She says involvement – not income – is the most accurate predictor of a child’s achievement in school. The legislation would require the State Board of Education to adopt a parental involvement policy by December 1st of this year and would further require district boards of education to adopt such policies by March of next year.