Posted June 14th, 2011 at 12:52pm

Spending on education has skyrocketed over the past five decades, more than tripling since the 1960s. But despite the ever-increasing taxpayer investment in education, American students’ academic achievement has flat lined.

While continuing the status quo of excessive spending does not increase educational gains, social science points to a strong correlation between parental involvement—especially from fathers—and increased academic success.

Fathers who spend more time with their children—going on outings, reading to their children, and showing regular interest in their children’s education—can impact their children’s academic attainment. For instance, individuals whose fathers demonstrated involvement with them as young children are more likely to reach higher levels of education. Even controlling for a mother’s involvement, the interest and attention given by a father to his adolescent’s education can significantly affect the student’s success. Likewise, children whose dads regularly visit the classroom and meet with teachers tends to fare better than children whose mothers are the only involved parent.

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