Overview

When you are involved in your child’s education, everyone benefits – students, parents, teachers, schools and communities. Good schools can become even better places to teach and learn, with student achievement often improving.

Parent engagement means:

  • making learning an important part of a child's day
  • talking with your child and their teacher about their learning
  • supporting your child's learning, both at home and at school
  • participating in the life of the classroom, school and community

Information for parents

Find information about Ontario’s publicly funded education system, including resources for parents of elementary and secondary students.

Children of all ages

Parents of infants, toddlers, pre-schoolers and school-age children can learn about:

Elementary school

Parents of elementary students can support their children with:

High school

Parents of secondary school students can learn about programs to:

Parent-teacher meetings

Meeting with your child’s teacher in person or virtually is an important part of regular ongoing communication about your child’s progress. You will learn what is being taught in class and how to support your child’s learning.

Schools try to provide at least one or two meetings with parents a year. These meetings take a variety of forms. For example, they may be parent and teacher or parent, child and teacher. The meeting may be led by the teacher or your child.

Tips

Here are a few tips to make sure you're prepared to learn the most about your child’s progress. This helps you support their learning in partnership with the school:

  • arrive early to maximize your time as the schedule of parent-teacher meetings may be tight
  • keep the meeting focused on your child and their progress, as well as how you can support their learning at home
  • have your top three questions or issues written down and ready and if the meeting is 15 minutes long, that gives you five minutes for each one
  • take notes if you wish
  • if you run out of time and still have important matters to cover, schedule another appointment

At the start of a new school year, many teachers will ask the best way to contact you such as by phone, email, text or written notes. The parent-teacher meeting is a good time to express your wish to stay engaged in your child’s schooling and confirm arrangements for staying in touch with the teacher.

Benefits of parent involvement

As a parent, you are your child’s first teacher. You influence your child’s attitudes toward school, learning and future success. Your involvement right provides them with an important foundation for success in school and in life.

Students and parents can benefit through:

  • improved student achievement
  • more positive attitudes about school
  • greater participation in class
  • increased motivation with homework
  • higher rates of high school graduation
  • more consistent school attendance
  • fewer behavioural issues
  • opportunities for parents to become involved in the life of the school and the community
  • a brighter future for students at school and later in life

Tips to be involved in your child’s education

An engaged parent is an interested parent. Here are some ways for being involved in your child’s education from the early years to Grade 12:

Demonstrate interest

  • ask what went on at school today and create an ongoing discussion
  • make talking about school and what they are learning a routine
  • Even if your childsays very little they are communicating with you and may want your guidance and support
  • If you notice they are not talking about school or seem withdrawn from school, you could contact your child’s teacher to getting more details and help . 

Provide time and support for each day homework

  • routines support a child’s growth and development
  • identify how you can help your child outside of school
  • older students might need help to set priorities for schoolwork and out-of-school activities (those may include part-time jobs, chores, extracurricular activities like sport and leisure time)

Participate: get involved in any way that is comfortable

  • find a way to communicate well with your chile
  • also communicate with your child’s teacher to support student-parent decisions as your child gets older
  • your options may include parent information nights, volunteer activities, arts and sporting events, school council or your board's parent involvement committee.

Stay informed 

  • find out what is going on in the your child’s classroom, their school and the school community
  • provide you current contact information to the school each year to ensure you receive notice of parent-teacher conferences, activities and events, as well as achievement, attendance and reporting updates

Not all of these tips will work for every parent. Get involved in a way that is right for you. Parents are important at home, in school and in the community.

Contact the Ministry of Education or your school board

If you have a question or concern about the education system contact a regional office of the Ministry of Education or your local school board. If you wish to discuss your child’s progress or your school in particular, contact your child’s school: