While parental involvement in students’ education has long been known to be effective and is encouraged by both the literature and policy, consistent parental involvement has not yet been achieved. This review investigates potential barriers to parental involvement, including those for minority and disabled parents, and offers suggestions to overcome these barriers. Moreover, differences between rhetoric and the reality of parental involvement, including contradictions at the political level, are challenges that are discussed. Finally, the different types of parental involvement (home-based and school-based) are evaluated for their effectiveness on student achievement.