Parental Involvement Vs. Parental Engagement: What You Need to Know

You may have heard the terms “parental involvement” and “parental engagement” before—and although you may have a grasp of what each of these concepts includes, the two offer subtle distinctions between you and your child’s school or education program. 

At One Place, all of our programs serve to promote parental engagement, including Early Head Start, Three School, NC Pre-K, and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. All parents and caregivers are provided meaningful opportunities to be engaged with a child’s education.  

Defining the Terms

As a general rule, any kind of family interaction with the school or program leads to positive outcomes—but when comparing the two possibilities, the benefits of parental engagement outweigh parental involvement.  

What parental involvement looks like: Parents take part in activities and requirements previously determined by the school or program. In most situations, parents simply do what is asked of them—while the school or the early childhood educators set goals and drive the outcomes. 

What parental engagement looks like: Parents take on an active and collaborative role, becoming part of the decision-making process. This can involve partnering closely with the school or program to make choices and develop activities in the best interest of their children. 

Why Is Parental Engagement Important? 

Parent engagement is the goal for most schools and early childhood educators. When a program embodies these goals, it is a two-way street: Schools listen to parents and strive for collaborative and impactful conversations.  

These relationships—built on listening and shared decision-making—typically produce a number of benefits for students. One study discovered that parental engagement led to higher grade point averages, better attendance, improved social skills, improved behavior, and higher enrollment in more challenging courses. 

What Does Parental Engagement Look Like? 

North Carolina Pre-K Programs 

North Carolina Pre-K programs collaborate with One Place to provide meaningful interactions between families and educators. 

• Home visits: At the beginning of the school year, North Carolina Pre-K teachers will meet the parents or caregivers of the child through a home visit. 
• Shared decision-making: We foster positive environments where families are encouraged to participate in decision-making. We encourage families and caregivers to share observations and information about their child’s progress throughout the school year. 

• Ongoing home learning. Educators will also collaborate with families on the best strategies to support a child outside of school. This may include onsite parent education opportunities, recommendations for interesting parent education classes, or take-home activities to incorporate into your child’s daily routine.

• Open door policies. We believe in an open-door policy. All parents and caregivers are invited to participate in classroom activities—from special events and field trips to volunteering or sharing time. 

Early Head Start Programs 

Early Head Start promotes parental engagement through each child’s individual educational experience and a family’s overall involvement with the EHS program. 

• Parent committees: Each center offers parent committees, allowing parents to become involved in program activity. 

• Policy Council: The EHS Policy Council is responsible for voting for program operations and playing a role in the overall growth and development of EHS. 

• Parental engagement: In addition to committees and the opportunity to join Policy Council, EHS also actively encourages parents to pursue volunteer opportunities. This includes a special focus on male parents or caregivers. 

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library 

For children enrolled in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, parents are encouraged to facilitate further learning through videos, activity sheets, and reading tips. One of the best ways to promote healthy literacy development is to read with your child. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library parental resources are available here.  

Our Impact 

One Place offers multiple early childhood education programs, including: 

• NC Pre-K: Through planned activities and play, your child will engage in critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork. Teachers partner with parents to support each child’s emotional and social development. We’ll also collaborate with Onslow County Schools to ensure your child experiences a seamless transition to kindergarten. 

• Three School: Three School provides high-quality educational experiences for 3-year-old children who meet TANF income eligibility requirements. This program helps to enhance school readiness.  

• Early Head Start: Partnering with Early Head Start for the first 3 years of your child’s life helps nurture their development and create strong family bonds. This program is designed for pregnant mothers, infants, and toddlers up to the age of 3. 

• Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library: Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a book-gifting program for children from birth to age 5. Once signed up, you’ll receive a high-quality, age-appropriate book mailed to your home each month for your child. 

Learn more about our programs here.