Parental Involvement in School Governance and Decision Making in Israel

A review of the memorandums set by the Israeli Ministry of Education reveals that they stress the importance of parental involvement for schools and children. A review of studies that focused on parental involvement in Israeli school governance suggests that parents’ participation is usually confined to the provision of funds, equipment, or other everyday needs. We assert that the traditional assumption—that educators are the only ones who know what is best for children—should be replaced by a more democratic approach recognizing the unique contribution of parents to the well-being of children and schools.