IT TAKES A PARENT Parent involvement is vital to the success of students and their schools. This simple point anchors the federal law known as No Child Left Behind, but state education departments and school districts are still struggling to implement the parent involvement provisions of NCLB.   This comprehensive study of parent involvement practices in 18 school districts nationwide evaluates local efforts to engage parents in their children's schooling. The goal is to help parents, especially those in low-income districts,become better "consumers" of public education. Appleseed Centers in Chicago, CT, GA, NM, TX and WA state are now working with school districts, education departments and community groups to implement our proposals.

► Striving for the Best: New Mexico's Need to Strengthen Parent Involvement in Public Schools (January 2009) ► It Takes a North Carolina Parent: Transforming Education Under the No Child Left Behind Act (May 2008) ► Full Report - "It Takes a Parent" (September 2006) ► Executive Summary - “It Takes a Parent: Transforming Education in the Wake of the No Child Left Behind Act” (September 2006) ► Spanish Version of Executive Summary - "It Takes a Parent" ► Additional Resources - "It Takes a Parent" ► School Facilities Study