Parental involvement and the academic performance of elementary school children

Considering family involvement in school learning, the main objective of this study is to verify the relationship between parental involvement and children's school performance. It also has, as specific objectives, to compare the averages obtained by school, by school year, by age and by sex. A total of 112 primary school children of both sexes, aged 8 to 12 years old, from the 3rd to the 5th grade, participated in two public schools in Minas Gerais-Brazil. The children answered two questionnaires "Questionnaire on evaluation of the relationship with the father in the eyes of the children" and with the mother, in the view of the children. Academic performance was raised in schools through their grades in the secretariats of the institutions. The results showed that only in the sex of the children there were statistically significant differences. No correlations were found between the means of the evaluation of the relationship with the parents and the academic performance. This result may reflect the fact that families and schools have not acted together, as perceived by children.