The research is clear: family and community involvement drives student success.
EduTrack is built on decades of evidence showing that when families, community partners, and schools work together and when that involvement is measured students do better academically, attend more regularly, and feel more connected to their schools.
Below are a few of the studies and reports we reference most often in conversations with superintendents and district leaders. Each one tells the same story in a different way: engagement matters, and it can be measured.
Peer-reviewed study
Parent involvement and student academic performance
Topor et al.
Found that higher parent involvement is linked to better reading and math performance, largely through its positive impact on childrens attitudes toward school and classroom behavior.
Focus: Early elementary reading and math achievement
Foundation summary
Parental involvement is key to student success
Annie E. Casey Foundation
Synthesizes multiple studies showing that when families are engaged monitoring homework, reading at home, and communicating with teachers students earn higher grades, attend more regularly, and are more likely to graduate.
Focus: Family support and learning environment
National PTA report
The positive relationship between family involvement and student success
National PTA
Highlights decades of evidence that strong family-school partnerships are associated with better achievement, higher test scores, improved attendance, and stronger social-emotional skills across grade levels.
Focus: K12 family-school partnerships
Academic article
Community and parent involvement as a driver of academic outcomes
Education research journal
Adds to the body of research showing that when schools intentionally involve families and community partners, students show higher motivation, stronger attendance, and gains in core academic subjects.
Focus: Links between engagement, motivation, and performance
Turning research into action
Across all of these studies, one theme repeats: involvement works when it is consistent, meaningful, and connected to student learning. What districts often lack is a way to see that involvement across schools, identify gaps, and show the impact to boards and community partners.
Measure engagement
Track volunteers, donations, events, and sponsorships in one place instead of scattered spreadsheets and paper sign-in sheets.
See equity across schools
Compare support across campuses so you can direct resources to the schools and students who need it most.
Tell a clear story to your board
Move beyond anecdotes with reports that connect family and community involvement to student outcomes and district goals.