Introductory overview followed by presentation of 3 elementary schools with differing levels of parental involvement.

Elementary School A: Parents help run the school by serving on a school management council with teachers and the principal. The council decides on hiring, expenditures, curriculum and textbooks and materials. Parents are elected to the council by other parents and have as many votes on the council as the professional educators.

Elementary School B: Parents are asked to support their children's education at home in close cooperation with the school. Parents are expected to limit television, check homework regularly, make sure their children have the space and quiet needed to study, and set high expectations. Parents are asked to support discipline and grading policies.

Elementary School C: Parents are encouraged to come into the school and to help with school activities but with so many broken homes, social problems and people working extra jobs, the school cannot count on parents' involvement and must take on many of the roles once filled by parents. This might include serving breakfast and lunch, getting teachers more involved in the home life of their students, mentor programs bringing in adult role models, and social workers helping kids in need.