FAQs | HOME WORKS! The Teacher Home Visit Program

Most public school students in Missouri spend only 13.9% of their year in school (174 days a year times seven hours a day), yet we hold teachers 100% responsible for students’ education. Teachers cannot educate their students alone – they must have academic support from their students’ homes for their students to succeed in school and in life. National education research overwhelmingly states that students do better academically and socially when parents provide academic enrichment at home from birth and when parents and teachers work together. One of the most effective ways to increase academic achievement at school is to increase academic achievement at home. It is critical that parents are reading and talking with their children daily, stressing the importance of education, and making sure their children go to school every day, all day.

Are home visits effective?

Yes! Our annual evaluations show that students who receive home visits:

increased their scores on state tests for math and communication arts compared to students who did not receive home visits;
scored higher on STAR reading tests than students who did not receive visits;
in 3rd through 6th grade improved their math grades, while math grades of non-participants declined; and
were less likely to miss two weeks or more of school than students who did not receive a home visit.

How does HOME WORKS! define “parent engagement”?

Focus: HOME WORKS! serves primarily low socio-economic status women, children, and families.

Duration: HOME WORKS! is one of the only home-visiting program in Missouri that visits the homes of students from early childhood through high school.

Depth: HOME WORKS! aims for a fundamental culture change in homes, schools, and communities. In addition to home visits, teachers hold parent-teacher workshops at school, families attend dinners at school (when allowed) with teachers to deepen their relationships and build trust.

Philosophy: HOME WORKS! believes that all parents want their children to succeed in school and in life. We see parents as partners and co-educators and realize the critical role they play in the education of their children.

Quality: HOME WORKS! provides comprehensive professional development for teachers and other school personnel on how to make effective home visits.

Breadth: HOME WORKS! serves early childhood centers and elementary schools in urban, suburban, and rural settings.

Research: HOME WORKS! is committed to collecting data and conducting annual evaluations with an outside evaluation team.

Perseverance: HOME WORKS! invests in long-term relationships and practices. Teachers build trust with families and everyone develops and improves skills and habits that promote better education for children.

Does HOME WORKS! accept volunteers?

Are teachers compensated for home visits?

What can parents gain from a home visit?

How can parents request a home visit?

How can an interested school/district become part of the HOME WORKS! program?