Parental involvement in children’s education significantly improves attendance, behavior, grades and social skills, all of which are crucial for long-term success. The Houston Independent School District (HISD) established the Parent University program in the 2018-19 school year with the overall goal to connect parents with district-provided resources and information. The program offers a series of courses on topics that include parents’ dreams and aspirations for their children, the inner workings of HISD, challenges to equity and quality education, parental advocacy and volunteerism, and pathways to college.
The Kinder Institute for Urban Research’s Houston Education Research Consortium (HERC) partnered with HISD to better understand which elements of Parent University have been the most effective. A survey was administered to the spring 2024 parent cohort to reflect on the program and identify areas for improvement.
Key findings
- Parents were generally satisfied with the program and its instructors for helping them gain a useful understanding of their child’s education and HISD.
- Multiple parents expressed dissatisfaction with experiences they had related to communication around session schedules and perceived language barriers.
- Parent University motivated parents to become more engaged with their schools.
- Parents found a new community of support through participating in the program.
