Parent Involvement in the Mercer
Island School District 

Mercer Island High School
Mercer Island, Washington
John R. Harrison
Principal

Slide 2 - School and Community Information
•	1450 students grades 9-12
•	Affluent, suburban, and an island community
•	The MIHS faculty and curriculum
•	Achievement results

Slide 3 - Why is parent involvement important?
•	Develops community and strong relationships
•	Shared interest and responsibility
•	Helps us understand our students better
•	Helps parents understand our work and our challenges
•	We need their help and they need our help

Slide 4 - Research on Parent Involvement
•	Definitions of parent involvement
•	Growing body of research since the 1980’s
•	Research overwhelmingly demonstrates that students with involved parents have:
•	higher grades and test scores
•	higher attendance and graduation rates
•	better social skills
•	 higher rates of college admission

Slide 5 - Examples of Formal Parent Involvement

•	School Board
•	District Committees 
•	PTSA
•	District PTSA

Slide 6 - Examples of Formal Parent Involvement
•	Fine Arts Advisory
•	Booster Clubs 
•	Site Council
•	Mutual Respect and Understandings

Slide 7, 8 - Examples of Informal Parent Involvement

•	Homework, teacher meetings, school events, communicating with teachers etc. 
•	Exercising opportunities to provide the parent perspective
•	Activity and specialty event planning
•	Interview teams
•	Ad hoc committees (school and district)
•	Focus groups
•	Volunteer opportunities 
•	Sharing expertise

Slide 9 - Revenue Generation
•	Mercer Island Schools Foundation
•	Bond and levy Committees
•	Legislative committees
•	Individuals and corporations
•	PTSA
•	Booster Clubs

Slide 10 - Summary Points
•	Mutual Understandings document
•	Role of Board, District Administration, School Administrators
•	Attitude
•	Partnership
	The most promising opportunity for student achievement occurs when families, schools, and community organizations work together.

Slide 11 - Questions and Challenges
•	A  valuable resource or a threat to autonomy and professionalism?
•	Less affluent communities?
•	How is this approach sustained?
•	Decision Making
•	Dependence
•	Training/Educating
•	Expectations
•	Competing Interests
•	Equity and Access