I read the most incredible article (twice actually), Parent Involvement: Influencing Factors and Implications by Delores C. Pena from Texas Tech University.  Basically she researched ways to increase and improve parents involvement.  Often times in schools, as in life, we all fall victim of being superficial, surface level, and seeing only what we are able to see from external factors.  I learned my first year of teaching how incredibly important it is to SEE beyond the explicit and more towards implicit connections with families.  If you truly WANT successful students and you truly DESIRE parental involvement, this article is a FANTASTIC read!