Family classes can improve academic performance in poor children: study

Beyond its small size, limitations of the study include the potential for teacher ratings of students to be biased because educators at the ParentCorps schools were aware of the mission, the authors note. However, second grade teachers didn’t know whether students had participated in ParentCorps when they were in pre-k, the authors also point out.

The results also highlight the importance of parental involvement, Dr. Caroline Kistin, a researcher at Boston University Medical Center who wrote an accompanying editorial.

“The findings of this study are consistent with previous findings that the social-emotional health of young children is one of the biggest factors that impacts school readiness and future school success,” Kistin said by email. “The parent-child relationship has a major influence on child social emotional development and can be a powerful buffer against stress.”

While it’s possible a program like ParentCorps might work differently outside of New York City, plenty of previous research suggests that focusing on both school and home environments can have a big impact on educational outcomes, Kistin added by email.

“A number of studies have demonstrated that high-quality early education programs can impact child well-being and educational attainment,” Kistin said.

“One of the novel aspects of ParentCorps is the focus on both the home and the school environments. The involvement of parents in particular may be the key to decreasing child stress and improving outcomes in the years that follow.”