How critical is it for parents to participate in their children’s education?

According to Michigan’s Department of Education:

Decades of research show that when parents are involved students have:

• Higher grades, test scores, and graduation rates 
• go farther in school
• go to better schools
• Better school attendance
• Increased motivation, better self-esteem
• Lower rates of suspension
• behave better
• Decreased use of drugs and alcohol
• Fewer instances of violent behavior

When parents are involved in education their kids have a better chance of succeeding in school. One statistic said that children do even better when their fathers help them with homework.