This research was an attempt to understand why parental involvement was decreasing and to investigate students' assessment scores from one grade level to the next. Quantitative and qualitative questionnaire surveys were created and analyzed to obtain data for the study. Two sixth grade classes and their parents were chosen to participate in the study. Three research questions were formulated. The first research question asked about why parental involvement decreased as students' progress through their grades. The second research question asked about approaches that can influence parental involvement as students' moves from elementary, middle and through high school. The third research question asked about parental influence and students' achievement from one grade level to the next. Students' statewide assessments were analyzed to identify changes that may have occurred from one grade to the next. Findings were: parents' perception of their involvement differed from parents to parents and this resulted in the relationship established with their children.

Students' assessment scores were analyzed to see if changes occurred as they also moved through the grades. Although students' test scores showed a decrease as they proceed from one grade to next, the researcher explained that the decrease in students' assessment score were not related to the relationship established with their parents.