Legislative declaration

(1) The general assembly hereby finds that: (a) Although education reform efforts are ongoing at both the state and local levels, Colorado continues to experience an unacceptably high dropout rate, inequalities in the academic achievement levels of students from different racial and socioeconomic groups, and low rates of enrollment and persistence in postsecondary education; (b) To accomplish the goals of reducing the dropout rate, reducing the gaps in academic achievement and growth among student groups, and increasing the number of students who continue into higher education following high school graduation or completion, the state must look to additional strategies for improving public education; (c) Studies show that, when parents are involved as partners with their children's schools, students achieve higher levels of academic performance, students demonstrate better attendance and homework completion, and students are less likely to drop out of school; (d) Students from diverse cultural backgrounds tend to perform better academically when their parents and the professionals at their schools collaborate to bridge the gap between the culture at home and that at the school; and (e) Secondary students whose parents are involved with their schools make better transitions into postsecondary education, maintain the quality of their academic work, and are more like to develop realistic plans for their futures. (2) The general assembly therefore finds that it is in the best interests of the state to create a state advisory council for parent involvement in education that will review best practices and recommend to policy makers and educators strategies to increase parent involvement in public education, thereby helping to improve the quality of public education and raise the level of students' academic achievement throughout the state.