LAUSR

Abstract This article analyses parental involvement in schools in Germany and Spain based on the results of PISA 2015. The authors examine the SPSS and Excel databases for the responses of the school principals, the parents and the students. Among other points two of the main indexes calculated in PISA 2015 are analyzed: the Index of School efforts to involve parents and the Index of parental involvement in school-related activities. Then, some of the main elements of parental involvement as parental attitudes, habits and opinions in relation with their children’s academic performance are examined. An ex post facto descriptive study of the specific aspects of parental involvement in each of the countries is presented. The results show the great efforts made in the schools to involve parents, according to the principals interviewed. The parents have a more moderate evaluation in this respect. Regarding performance in science, it is found in Spain and in Germany that not all factors related to parental participation favor a higher achievement.