PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT AND WEEKEND STUDY TIME: EVIDENCE FROM GATE VS. NON-GATE FIFTH AND SIXTH GRADE PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS.

This study examines the relationship between "parental involvement" and "weekend study time" in public schools GATE and non-GATE students for fifth and sixth grade students. The findings indicate that "parental involvement" is related to less weekend study time. While findings are statistically significant, there appears to be no significant difference between GATE and non-GATE students weekend study time and parental involvement. Further, weekend study time is associated with higher grades for GATE students than non-GATE students across the board in all subjects. As expected, all students tend to do better in math, science, and English Language Arts (ELA) subjects with weekend study. All GATE fifth graders report studying during weekends while only some but majority of GATE sixth graders report studying during weekends. GATE students spend more time studying during weekends than the non-GATE students. Sixth graders reported that studying more during weekends than fifth graders. The findings are not consistent with the view that parental involvement, leads to less study time, this may be because parents give students more time to undertake other activities such as extracurricular interests or rest. The findings are also consistent with the view that young students have a desire for academic independence in grades of at least fifth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]