Why is it important to have a parent-teacher partnership?

Because both have an adult responsibility for care of a minor, and it's important for them to be on the same page regarding his or her instruction.





The more parents understand the schools their children attend, the more they develop working relationships with their teachers, the better they can help their children understand what is required of them, academically and behaviorally.





It helps teachers and principals a lot to know, within reason, what the family dynamics of their students are, as well. Example: if it's known that a student is from a single parent household, and that parent is struggling with illness and finances, more effort will be made to go easy on the student, to offer extra help, to sign him up for free breakfast and lunch, etc. If nothing is known, a teacher might assume that a student is just being lazy.





Also, kids are known to tell parents one thing and teachers another; sometimes to be a completely different person at home and at school. When parents, teachers and students are seated around the same table, it's much harder for a kid to get away with playing both sides.