For 25 years, Parent Teacher Home Visits (PTHV) has equipped school staff to build relationships of trust with the families in their communities. Over the last year, we’ve reflected on our history, celebrated our wins, built new partnerships, launched the annual National PTHV Week, shared our stories, and opened the door to the next quarter century of impact.

This anniversary is well-timed and meets exactly the demands of the moment we face in K-12 education. While, as a nation, we’re consumed with the urgency of recovery and the imperative for equity, this milestone presents the opportunity to share an evidence-based strategy that can help propel both missions. Allow us in this post to take a closer look at our track record to date and to examine the significance and enduring legacy of our work.

Building Bridges

Since its inception in 1998, Parent Teacher Home Visits has stood as a catalyst for change, aiming to bridge the gap between families and schools. By fostering trust and open communication, PTHV has successfully transformed the traditional parent-teacher relationship into a collaborative partnership. It started with two moms in South Sacramento just trying to get some academic support for their children, and with the power of organizing, word-of-mouth validation, and political and philanthropic support, PTHV has grown into an international organization.

Through home visits, teachers gain valuable insights into their students’ lives, cultural backgrounds, and challenges they may face outside the classroom. Similarly, families have an opportunity to actively engage with educators, gaining a deeper understanding of their child’s academic progress and building a strong support network.

Impact on Student Success

Research consistently demonstrates that when families are actively involved in their child’s education, academic outcomes improve significantly. Parent Teacher Home Visits have been instrumental in empowering parents as essential stakeholders in their child’s learning journey. By creating a welcoming environment that encourages dialogue and mutual respect, our model of home visits has boosted student attendance, increased parental engagement in school activities, and enhanced overall academic achievement. An independent national evaluation confirmed that Parent Teacher Home Visits increase the odds of proficiency on ELA exams by 35 percent. They reduce the likelihood of chronic absence by 21 percent. Moreover, where this model of home visits is systematically implemented, all students benefit whether they receive a home visit or not.

Cultivating Empathy and Cultural Competence

One of the most remarkable aspects of Parent Teacher Home Visits is its emphasis on fostering empathy and culturally responsive and sustaining education. By immersing educators in the diverse backgrounds and experiences of their students’ families, PTHV helps educators develop a deeper understanding of cultural nuances, traditions, and family dynamics. This invaluable perspective enables teachers to tailor their instruction to meet the unique needs of each student, creating a more inclusive and equitable classroom environment.

Expanding Reach and Replicating Success

Over the past 25 years, Parent Teacher Home Visits has grown exponentially, with countless schools and districts implementing this transformative practice. The success of PTHV has inspired replication efforts across the country, resulting in improved relationships between schools and families in urban, suburban, and rural communities alike. Training programs, resources, and ongoing support have empowered educators and families to initiate home visits, creating a ripple effect of positive change in educational settings nationwide.

We proudly present cumulative data on the impact of Parent Teacher Home Visits since our founding and since we’ve been systematically collecting and analyzing the results of PTHV practices nationwide. PTHV has been implemented in 4,999 sites. We’ve trained 52,654 teachers and school staff, and they’ve conducted 335,609 Parent Teacher Home Visits.

These data serve as a testament to the dedication and commitment of our educators, families, and communities in fostering strong relationships and enhancing student success through home visits. Our goal remains a Parent Teacher Home Visit for every learner. Here’s U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona extending congratulations to PTHV.