Recent studies have verified Secretary of Education William Bennett's observation on the importance of home and family life. The most successful students are those whose parents become actively engaged in the educational process at home and at school. To capitalize on potential parent involvement, principals need to understand the kinds of contributions parents want to make; become familiar with parents' availability, interests, knowledge, and skills; and develop a collaborative, nurturing environment that breaks down traditional barriers. A 1980 Southwest Educational Development Laboratory study launched a 6-year survey of over 4,000 educators and 3,000 parents in six states. Results suggest that elementary school principals support the general idea of parental participation, but are less sanguine about its breadth and scope; most favor traditional parental roles (participating in open house functions, serving as school chaperones, and so forth). Principals were less supportive of parental assistance with governance and decision-making functions. Survey results analysis led to developing several instruments linking parent involvement with school improvement strategy and a set of recommendations for principals. Improving parent involvement is directly related to principals' attitudes and sincerity, the range of involvement opportunities, and the type of school environment. (MLH)