My parents were active participants in my education, doing everything from volunteering at school events, taking it upon themselves to find extra support for me when I was struggling in math classes, and ensuring that they knew who my teachers were and how they could help them, too. Their involvement made me aware of the impact parents have on their children’s perception of them.
This is when I became aware of the importance of parent engagement in a student’s life. Witnessing how education was a cornerstone of their values, by being actively involved in my educational journey, shaped my desire to help all children have access to quality education.
Parent engagement is crucial for student success. Through my personal experience and now my work as a fellow for the education advocacy nonprofit Our Voice: Communities for Quality Education, I can see how influential the power of parental guidance, support, and, more importantly, engagement is.
There are many ways that parents can stay involved in their child’s education. At Our Voice, I work alongside dedicated parent volunteers who are also leaders in their school communities. Many have children who have graduated from the public education system but remain actively involved in advocacy efforts to support the education of all children. Some parents who couldn’t participate and volunteer when their children attended school choose to engage afterward as a way to pay it forward.
Our Voice parent advocates are present every step of the way for their families and for others in their school community. They demonstrate a significant commitment to the well-being, health, and safety of all students in Los Angeles. They do this out of love and respect for the growth of our community.
Earlier this year, Our Voice parents leaders met with LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho to advocate for the safety and well-being of immigrant families and their children. Parent leaders also met with school board members and members of the Los Angeles City Council.
Our Voice parents advocate for accessibility to resources for their community, such as the inclusion of Indigenous languages and the use of informational videos on LAUSD’s website about topics like “Know your rights.” Through these conversations, they voice concerns and urge local leaders to take meaningful steps to ensure communities feel safe and supported. Most importantly, parents demonstrate the values of resilience and responsibility to their children.
Our Voice parent leaders contribute to advocacy efforts that support the implementation of evidence-based early literacy reading instruction to ensure kids in California are reading by the third grade. They attend workshops on how to bridge the digital divide, which leaves many low-income residents unjustly paying absurdly expensive monthly bills for internet access. They mobilize and inform other community members to become involved and attend Facebook Live programming such as the Our Voice: Learning Together Series, where guests address information relative to health, well-being, financial literacy, and other prevalent issues faced by Latino and Indigenous families. Parents take it upon themselves to learn what tools they need to help their children succeed academically and outside of the classroom.
As a young woman who is the first in her family to obtain a Bachelor’s degree and will soon be the first in her family to hold a Master’s degree, I urge parents everywhere to take an active role in their children’s education. This will require setting aside time and establishing a relationship with teachers, counselors, principals, and other parents. They will need to do this to access information that can help them guide their children throughout their academic journey. Parents must take meaningful steps to ensure their children receive the support they need to thrive in school and beyond.
One step onto this path is to get involved by volunteering at your child’s school. You might join a parent committee to help create fun and engaging programs, collaborate with other parents, or even offer to be a teacher’s assistant for a day. Sometimes, it’s as simple as asking the school how you can contribute. These small steps can lead to meaningful and fulfilling experiences. My strongest recommendation is to join a community advocacy group like Our Voice, where parents are empowered to take an active role in shaping their child’s educational journey.
When parents take these steps to engage, they do more than just support school activities–they lead by example. Parents set the tone for how their children view the value of education. If we want our children to flourish academically, parent participation is essential. Speaking up about needed improvements shows children the power of exercising their voice and the importance of civic responsibility. Parental involvement doesn’t just impact one child; it uplifts the entire school community, which fosters a culture of care, leadership, and mutual support. By showing up and staying engaged, parents help lay the foundation for a generation that knows how to lead with compassion and a service-oriented mindset to care for their fellow person.
Kamila Campos is a second-year candidate for a Master of Public Policy at Pepperdine University. She is from Northeast Los Angeles.
