Why education and families matter.
Education is vital to every child’s future. It shapes their academic opportunities, career success, and long-term wellbeing.[i] However, Oklahoma’s students rank among the nation’s lowest-performing students in reading and math. This problem has consequences not only for individual children but also for the future prosperity of the state. Families can be part of the solution. This Impact Brief summarizes why education matters and offers practical, research-based strategies that parents and caregivers can use to help their children succeed.
Why education matters.
Education is key to both personal and societal improvement. Most people understand that education is key to a person’s success. It also benefits Oklahoma as a whole, strengthening our state’s economy, civic involvement, and public health and safety.[ii] Specific benefits include:
Economic Development.
On a personal level, better education can lead to improved job prospects and higher earning potential. On a societal level, a more educated workforce can lead to economic growth, innovation, and improved national competitiveness.
Individual skills.
Education equips people with the knowledge and skills they need to navigate life and improve communities. It fosters critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
Healthier Lives.
Educated individuals are more likely to make healthier lifestyle choices, leading to better health outcomes for themselves and Oklahoma.
Research on family involvement.
Decades of research suggest that family involvement in children’s education is beneficial.[iii] When most people think of family involvement, school volunteering, fundraising, and attendance at events often come to mind. However, it is home-based learning activities and education-focused parenting practices that have the strongest positive influence in reading and math.[iv]
Parent-child shared reading.
Research provides very strong evidence that parents and children reading together positively affects children’s literacy development, especially when children are young. When parents combine shared reading time with specific activities, such as teaching letter sounds and spelling, the benefits are even greater.[v]
Home learning activities and homework help.
Studies indicate that home learning activities and parents helping their children with schoolwork can improve children’s reading and math skills.[vi] Younger children with lower achievement seem to receive the greatest benefits from consistent homework help from parents.[vii] Parent-child learning is most effective when parents promote independent learning behaviors in children and avoid completing tasks for their children.
Education-focused parenting attitudes and behaviors.
Parents’ attitudes and behaviors related to education are among the most significant ways that they support academic success.[viii] Research indicates that children perform best when parents hold high expectations, model positive attitudes toward school, and routinely stress the value of education.[ix] Many studies suggest that children do well academically when parents combine clear, firm expectations
What parents can do.
Read with Your Child
Strong literacy provides a foundation for learning overall. Engage in shared reading with your child, especially in the early years. Combine shared reading with specific learning activities, such as teaching letter sounds and practicing spelling.
Organize Learning Activities at Home
Schedule regular time at home for reading and math but help your child without doing the work for your child. When helping your child with schoolwork, give warm encouragement and try to keep a positive and upbeat attitude.
Hold High Expectations
Communicate that you expect your child to do his/her best. Emphasize the necessity of effort, responsibility, and perseverance.
Model a Positive Attitude toward School
Talk about the value of school and learning. Stay engaged with your child’s academic progress and ask about your child’s school day.
Use Education-oriented Parenting Approaches
When discussing education, be warm and supportive but also set clear and consistent expectations for schoolwork and behavior. As your child grows older, discuss your child’s career interests and how school connects to their goals. Continue to reinforce the value of hard work and lifelong learning.
REFERENCES
[i] Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. (2025, May). Teens value college and life skills in preparing for the future. https://apnorc.org/projects/teens-value-college-and-life-skills-in-preparing-for-the-future/
[ii] Zimmerman, E. B., Woolf, S. H., & Haley, A. (2015). Understanding the relationship between education and health. In Institute of Medicine, Education and Health: A Review. National Academies Press.
[iii] Berkowitz, T., Schaeffer, M. W., Maloney, E. A., Peterson, L., Gregor, C., Levine, S. C., & Beilock, S. L. (2015). Math at home adds up to achievement in school. Science, 350(6257), 196-198; Jeynes, W. (2011). Parental involvement and academic success. New York, NY: Routledge. safety in disadvantaged urban neighborhoods. Journal of School Violence, 19(3), 362–376.
[iv] Jeynes, W. H. (2017). A meta-analysis: The relationship between parental involvement and Latino student outcomes. Education and Urban Society, 49(1), 4-28.
[v] Sénéchal, M., & Young, L. (2008). The effect of family literacy interventions on children’s acquisition of reading from kindergarten to grade 3: A meta-analytic review. Review of Educational Research, 78(4), 880-907.
[vi] Skwarchuk, S. L., Sowinski, C., & LeFevre, J. A. (2014). Formal and informal home learning
activities in relation to children’s early numeracy and literacy skills: The development of a home numeracy model. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 121, 63-84.; Kupzyk, S., LaBrot, Z. C., & Collins, M. J. (2023). An updated systematic review on parent
tutoring. Education and Treatment of Children, 46(1), 59-75.
[vii] Li, A., & Hamlin, D. (2019). Is daily parental help with homework helpful? Reanalyzing national data using a propensity score–based approach. Sociology of Education, 92(4), 367–385.; Patall, E. A., Cooper, H., & Robinson, J. C. (2008). Parent involvement in homework: A research synthesis. Review of Educational Research, 78(4), 1039-1101.
[viii] Jeynes, W. H. (2024). A meta-analysis: The relationship between the parental expectations
component of parental involvement with students’ academic achievement. Urban Education, 59(1), 63-95.
[ix] Pinquart, M., & Ebeling, M. (2020). Parental educational expectations and academic
achievement in children and adolescents—a meta-analysis. Educational Psychology Review, 32(2), 463-480.
[x] Hayek, J., Schneider, F., Lahoud, N., Tueni, M., & de Vries, H. (2022). Authoritative parenting
stimulates academic achievement, also partly via self-efficacy and intention towards getting good grades. Plos one, 17(3), e0265595.