ABSTRACT
The powerful effect of students’ family and the home environment on achievement in school is rarely debated. For decades, studies around the world have shown that children’s home environment and family involvement are among the most important influences on their school performance and behaviour (Fan and Chen 2001; Henderson and Mapp 2002). Moreover, the positive effects of family involvement have been demonstrated as early as pre-kindergarten (Dearing et al. 2004; Fantuzzo et al. 2004), and continue through high school (Catsambis 2001; Ho and Willms 1996). All schools, regardless of the grade levels they serve, need to consider how well they are reaching out to all families and whether or not that outreach effort is positively affecting their students.
