An ever growing body of research indicates that parental involvement is a key factor in the success of children in school. Studies have shown that children whose parents take an active interest in their education benefit in a number of ways. These children generally have higher academic achievement, better attendance, a sense of well-being, a readiness to do homework, and better self-regulatory skills. These positive effects are not confined to elementary school but continue through high school. Less publicized, but still important, are the ways in which teachers profit from developing alliances with parents. Teachers who promote partnerships with parents report reduced stress levels, experience empowerment to teach more effectively, and realize higher professional status and authority. Parental involvement is attributed to a greater recognition of teachers' skills and better evaluations. This paper examines critical parental behaviors for student success as well as the major obstacles for parental involvement. Suggestions are given for improving preservice training in teacher education programs.