For decades, researchers have pointed to one key success factor that transcends nearly all others, such as socioeconomic status, student background, or the school district a student attends: parental involvement. The extent to which schools nurture positive relationships with families- and vice versa- makes all the difference, research shows. Students whose parents stay involved in school have better attendance and behavior, get better grades, demonstrate better social skills, and adapt better to school. Parental involvement also more securely sets students up to develop a lifelong love of learning, which researchers say is key to long-term success. Three important predictors of high student achievement (transcending both family income and social status): 1. Creating a home environment that encourages learning 2. Communicating high, yet reasonable, expectations for achievement 3. Staying involved in a child’s education at school Once this happens, the motivation and behavior of…