This study examined one of the critical and social issues related to parental involvement and educational institutions in the northern rural area of Belize Central America. The main focus of this study was to elicit vital information on barriers to parental involvement in northern Belizean schools. It also geared to determine whether parent’s input has significant effects on teacher’s performance and school development. Both qualitative and quantitative approaches were utilized to extract interesting data relevant to the topic studied. Data was collected and analyzed to gain insight on the issues of parental involvement, teacher’s performance and school development. It was through a series of inquiries and looking at valuable school records and teacher’s interviews that the effects of parents towards teacher’s performance and school development was determined. For quantitative, a survey was used as the primary instrument to determine barriers to parental involvement in elementary schools. Parents who had children in primary schools and educators served as major participants to provide feedback on the various domains investigated. Results indicated that barriers such as job chores and communication skills served as major determinants for parents not to participate in schools. It could also be brought to light that parental involvement had positive effects on teacher’s performance and school development since parents contributed and assisted providing educational institutions in northern Belize outstanding gains. This study advances our understanding on the different aspects existing within parent-school relationships. It also revealed indispensable roles parental involvement played in educational development and effects triggered on teachers and schools in the northern Belizean society.

Alreidge, J. (2000). Working with families in the 21st century. Childhood Education, 77 (1),
57- 59.
Annunziata, D. Hogue, A. Faw, L. & Liddle, H.A. (2006). Family functioning and school
success in at-risk, inner-city adolescents. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 35 (3), 105-113.

Attanucci, J. (2004). Questioning honor: a parent-teacher conflict over excellence and diversity
in a USA urban high school. Journal of Moral Education, 33 (1), 57-69.

Acevedo, S. (2009). Do teacher characteristics matter? New results on the effects of teacher
preparation on student achievement. Economics of Education Review, 28 (1), 49-57.

Bakker, J. & Denessen, E. (2007). The concept of parental involvement. Some theoretical and
empirical considerations. International Journal about Parents in Education, 1 (1), 188-199.

Bisland, A. (2004). Developing leadership skills in young gifted students. Gifted Child Today,
27 (1), 24- 28.

Bushfield, S. (2004). Fathers in Prison: Impact of parenting education. Journal of Correctional
Education, 55 (2), 104-116.

Barth, R. (1990). Improving schools from within: Teachers, parents and principals can make a
difference. San Francisco: Josey-Bass Publisher.

Barton, A. & Drake, C. (2004). Ecologies of parental engagement in urban education.
Educational Researcher, 33 (4), 3-12.

Benson, F. & Martin, S. (2003). Organizing successful parent involvement in urban schools.
Child Study Journal, 33 (3), 187-193.

Bakker, J. Denessen, E. & Brus-Laeven, M. (2007). Socio-economic background, parental
involvement and teacher perception of these in relationship to pupil achievement.
Educational Studies, 33 (4), 177-192.

Bryan, J. (2005). Fostering educational resilience and achievement in urban schools through
school-family-community partnerships. Professional School Counseling, 8 (3), 219-227.

Buchanan, R. & Bowen, G. (2008). In the context of adult support: The influence of peer
support on the psychological well-being of middle school students. Child and Adolescent
Social Work Journal, 25 (5), 396-407.

Ballard, K. & Bates, A. (2008). Making the connection between student achievement, teacher
accountability and quality classroom instruction, The Qualitative Report, 13(4), 560-580.

Barge, J. & Loges, W. (2003). Parent, student and teacher perceptions of parental involvement.
Journal of Applied Communication Research, 31 (2), 140-163.

Brilliant, C. ( 2001). Parental involvement in education: Attitudes and activities of Spanish
speakers as affected by training. Bilingual Research Journal, 25( 3), 252-274.

Barth, R. (2006). Improving relationships within the school house. Educational Leadership,
63(6), 8-15.

Cantrell, P. Young, S. & Moore, A (2003). Factors affecting science teaching efficacy of pre-
service elementary teachers. Journal of Science Teacher Education, 14(3), 177-192.

Clay, S. ( 2005). Communicating with parents: Strategies for teachers. The School Community
Journal, 16 (1), 117-130.

Clarke, S. & Stevens, E. (2008). Sustainable leadership in small rural schools: Selected
Australian vignettes. Journal of Educational Change , 10 (4), 1-34.

Child Trends (2009). Parent involvement in schools. October, 2009. Retrieved from
www.childtrendsdatabank.org/pdf/39_PDF.pdf.

Chu, E. & Willms, D. (1996). Effects of parental involvement on eight grade achievement.
Sociology of Education, 69 (2), 126-141.

Clark, N. & Bates, R. (2003). Self efficacy beliefs and teacher effectiveness. Implications for
professional development. The Professional Educator, 26 (1), 13-22.

Carol, S. (2001). Building family and community relationships. Early Childhood Today, 17 (2),
1-5.

Crozier, G. & Davies, J. (2007). Hard to reach parents or hard to reach schools? British
Educational Research Journal, 33 (3), 295-313.

Crosnoe, R. (2001). Academic orientation and parental involvement in education during high
school. Sociology of Education, 74 (3), 210-230.

Crosnoe, R., Johnson, M. & Elder, G. (2004). Intergenerational bonding in school: The
behavioral and contextual correlates of student teacher relationships. Sociology of
Education, 77 (1), 60-81.

Cordry, S. & Wilson, D. (2004). Parents as first teachers. Education Review, 123 (1), 56-61.

Christie, K. (2005). Changing the nature of parent involvement. Phi Delta Kappan, 86 (9),
646-648.

Crozier, G. (1999). It is a case of we know when we are not wanted. The parents’ perspective on
parent-teacher roles and relationships. Educational Research, 41 (3), 315-328.

Domina, T. (2005). Leveling the home advantage: assessing the effectiveness of parental
involvement in elementary school. Sociology of Education, 78 (3), 233- 249.

Driessen, G., Smit, F., & Sleegers, P. (2005). Parental involvement and educational achievement.
British Educational Research Journal, 31 (3), 509-532.

Deplanty, J., Coulter-Kern, R., & Duchane, K. A. (2007). Perceptions of parent involvement in
academic achievement. The Journal of Educational Research, 3 (8), 361-368.

Decastro, D. & Cho, G. (2005). Do parents value education? Teachers’ perception of minority
parents. Multicultural Education, 13 (2), 44- 47.

Doyle, D. & Slotnik, W. (2006). Leave no parent behind. Education Week, 25(16), 28-9.

Diaz, L. (2003). Personal, family and academic factors affecting low achievement in secondary
school. Journal of Research in Educational Psychology & Psychopedagogy, 1(1), 43-66.

Epstein, L. & Johnson, N. (2004). School, family and community partnerships link the plan.
Education Digest, 83 (1), 19-28.

Elmore, R. (2000). Building a new structure for school leadership. Research Policy
Education, 11 (1), 1- 42.

Fletcher, R. & Silverberg, S. (2006). Involvement of fathers in primary school activities.
Australian Journal of Education, 50 (1), 29-39.

Flynn, G. (2007). Increasing parental involvement in our schools: The need to overcome
obstacles, promote critical behaviors and provide teacher training. Journal of College
Teaching & Learning, 4(2), 23-30.

Fadhli, H. & Singh, M. (2006). Teacher's expectancy and efficacy as correlates to school
achievement in Delta Mississippi. Journal of Personnel Evaluation in Education, 19 (1),
51-67.

Gaziel, H. ( 1998). School based management as a factor in school effectiveness. International
Review of Education, 44 ( 4), 319- 333.

Griffith, J. (2001). Principal leadership of parental involvement. Journal of Educational
Administration, 39 (2), 162- 186.

Galinsky, E. (2001). What children want from parents and how teachers can help. Educational
Leadership, 58 (7), 24- 28.

Harris, A. & Goodall, J. (2008). Do parents know they matter? Engaging all parents in learning.
Educational Research, 50 (3), 277-289.

Hoover-Dempsey, K. Walker, M. Sandler, M. Whetsel, D. Green, C. Wilkins, C. & Closson,
K. (2005). Why do parents become involved? Research findings and implications The
Elementary School Journal, 106 (2), 105-124.

Haselhuhn, C. Mabuk, R. & Gabriele, A. (2007). Promoting positive achievement in the middle
school: A look at teachers’ motivational knowledge, beliefs and teaching practices.
Research in Middle Level Education, 30 (9), 1-20.

Harris, K. Furstenberg, F. & Marmer, J. (1998). Parental involvement with adolescents in intact
families. Demography, 35(2), 201-216.

Hiebert, J. Gallimore, R. & Stigler, J. (2002). A knowledge base for the teaching profession:
What would it look like and how can we get one. Educational Researcher, 31(5), 3- 15.

Hammer, M. & Polnick, B. (2006). Preparing tomorrows teachers. Educational Leadership,
64 (4), 80- 88.

Hoer, T. (2006). A principal connection: Thanking your stars. Educational Leadership, 64 (4),
90-95.

Henson, K. (2006). Curriculum planning. U S A (3rd Ed.) Waveland Press Incorporation.

Intrator, S. & Kunzman, R. (2006). Starting with the soul. Educational Leadership, 63 (6),
38-44.

Jeynes, W. (2005). The effects of parental involvement on academic achievement of African
American youth. The Journal of Negro Education, 74 (3), 260-274.

Jacoby, F. & Wittreich, I. (2003). Parental involvement for a new century. The NERA Journal,
39 (3), 11-16.

Kaufman, R. & Sara, E. (2005). Father-school communication in preschool and kindergarten.
The School Psychology Review, 34(3), 287-308.

Karther, D. (2002). Fathers with low literacy and their young children. The Reading Teacher,
56 (2), 184-193.

Kennedy, M. (2006). From teacher quality to quality teaching. Educational Leadership, 63 (6),
14- 20.

Loughran, S. (2008). The importance of teacher/parent partnerships: Preparing pre-service and
in-service teachers, Journal of College Teaching & Learning, 5 (8), 35-40.

Leon, L. (2003). Parents and secondary schools. Principal Leadership, 4 (4), 32-38.

Leigh, A & Mead, S. (2005). Lifting teacher performance. Policy Report Review, 1-20.

Lavy, V. (2007). Using performance-based pay to improve the quality of teachers. The future of
Children, 17 (1), 87- 109.

Mandel, S. (2006). What teachers really need. Educational Leadership, 63 (6), 66- 73.

Maxwell, J (1998). The 21 irrefutable laws of leadership. Maxwell Motivational, Inc.,
Georgia, U S A: Maxwell Motivation Incorporation.

Machen, S. Wilson, M. & Notar, C. (2004). Parental involvement in the classroom. Journal of
Instructional Psychology, 32 (1), 13-20.

McTamaney, C. (2005). Parents as participants. Montessori Life, 17 (1), 14-17.

Meidel, W. & Reynolds, A. (2000). Parental involvement in early intervention for disadvantaged
children: Does it matter. Journal of School Psychology, 37 (4), 379-402.

Moore, S. & Lasky, S. (2001). Parental involvement in education. Education Quality and
Accountability Office, Research Series, 6 (1) , 1-12.

Nelson, G. & Landel, C. (2006). A collaborative approach for elementary science. Educational
Leadership, 64 (4), 72- 76.

Olaniyan, D. & Okemakinde, T. (2008). Human capital theory: Implications for educational
development. European Journal of Scientific Research, 24 (2), 157-162.

Pashiardis, G. (2000). School climate in elementary and secondary schools: Views of Cypriot
principals and teachers. The International Journal of Educational Management, 14 (5),
224-237.

Park, H. (2006). Parental involvement and educational outcomes: The significance of
institutional arrangements of educational system. International Perspectives on
Education and Society, 7 (2), 187-208.

Plevyak, L. (2003). Parent involvement in education: Who decides? Education Digest, 69 (2),
32-38.

Prothereo, B. (2002). Seeing schools from the inside out . The role of students in school self
assessment. Education Canada, 42 ( 21), 1-11.

Quezada, R. & Diaz, M. (2003). Involving Latino parents. Educational Leadership, 33 (1),
32- 40.

Reed, W. (2009). The bridge is built: The role of local teachers in an urban elementary school.
The School Community Journal, 19 (1), 59-76.

Rosario, P. Mourao, R. Nunez, J. Pienda, J. & Solano, P. (2006). School –family: Is a reciprocal
and positive relationship possible? Papeles del Psicologo, 27 (3), 171-179.

Rosenblatt, Z. & Peled, D. ( 2002). School ethical climate and parental involvement. Journal of
Educational Administration, 40 (4), 349-367.

Rosier, K. (2001). Without the parent you lose the child: Teachers' expectations and parents'
non involvement. Sociological Studies of Children and Youth, 8 (1), 3-42.

Soodak, L. & Podell, D. (1996) . Teacher efficacy toward the understanding of multifaceted
construct. Teaching & Teacher Education, 12 (4), 401- 411.

Sharma, S. (2007). The education of culturally and linguistically diverse students. Journal of
Teaching & Learning, 4 (11), 19- 30.

Sheldon, S. (2003). Linking school- family community partnerships in urban elementary schools
to student achievement on state tests. The Urban Review, 35 (2), 149- 165.

Sheldon, S. & Van Voorhis, F. (2004) . Partnership programs in US schools: Their development
and relationship to family involvement outcomes. School Effectiveness & School
Improvement, 15 (2), 125 -148.

Sanders, M. & Epstein, J. (2005). School-family community partnership and educational
changes: International perspectives. A. Hargreaves ( Ed) Extending Educational Change,
200-224, Springer Netherlands.

Sato, M. & Atkin, M. (2006) Supporting change in classroom assessment. Educational
Leadership, 64 (4), 76- 80.

Smith, M. (2006). Ten promising trends. Educational Leadership, 63 (6), 20- 26.

Singh, P. & Taylor, S. (2007). The new equity deal for schools: a case study of policy-making in
Queensland, Australia. British Journal of Sociology of Education, 28 (3), 301-315.

Tubbs, J & Garner, M. (2008). The impact of school climate on school outcomes. Journal of
College Teaching & Learning, 5(9), 17- 26.

Unal, Z. (2008). Going the extra step for parental involvement: Connecting family and school
with the power of teacher websites. Journal of College Teaching & Learning, 5 (6),
43-50.

Varner, L. (2007). Preparation of future school leaders. Journal of College Teaching &
Learning, 4 (11), 31- 40.
Van Voorhis, F. & Sheldon, S. (2004). Principals' roles in the development of US programs of
school, family and community partnership. International Journal of Educational
Research, 41(2), 55-70.

Vincent, C. & Tomlinson, S. (1997). Home school relationships: the swarming of disciplinary
mechanisms. British Educational Journal Research, 23 (3), 361- 375.

West, M. (2005) . Quality in schools: developing a model for school improvement. M. Fullan
(Ed) Fundamental Change, 98-119, Springer Netherlands.

Westergrad, E. & Galloway, D. (2004). Parental disillusionment with school: Prevalence and
relationship with demographic variables and phase, size and location of school.
Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research, 48 (2), 189- 202.

Wilson, S. Floden, R. & Ferrini-Mundy, J. (2002). Teacher preparation research: An insider's
view from the outsie. Journal of Teacher Education, 53 (1), 190-204.

Yan, W. (1999). Successful African American students: the role of parental involvement.
Journal of Negro Education, 68 (1), 5-22.