The Progressives' Handbook

Students whose parents participate in their educations have better attendance, get higher scores on tests, are less likely to abuse drugs/alcohol, and are more likely to both graduate and receive post-secondary education.

For information on how to support your kids' academic achievement, check out the Just for Parents section of the American Federation of Teachers' site (www.aft.org) and its great brochures, many of which are available in both English and Spanish. Topics cover the gamut from "What Parents & Families Can Do at Home to Help Their Children Meet High Standards" to "Helping Your Child Become a Reader" and can be downloaded free of charge.

The National Coalition for Parent Involvement in Education (www.ncpie.org) offers an extensive database on resources for Parents and Families, gleaned from dozens of outside groups. The National Education Association's site is another important source of possibilities for parents, and its Getting Involved in Your Child's Education page (www.nea.org/parents) is filled with helpful tips as well.

The Parent Teacher Association (www.pta.org) has a slew of resources organized around the general categories of Student Achievement, Safety, Media Technology, and Health and Fitness. For example, under Student Achievement you can find advice on helping children with homework and test performance, along with articles such as "Making a Family Museum Visit Fun for Toddlers, Teens, and In-Betweens" and "Choosing Age-Appropriate Instruments and a Good Instructor." Also visit the PTA site's active Bulletin Boards.