The Dad Difference

How and Why to Invite Fathers into Your School

By: Chacko Abraham, Deborah R. Higdon

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eText | 27 May 2026

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A blueprint for making positive father engagement a reality in your school.

When students' fathers are engaged at school, good things happen. Discipline problems ease. Achievement rises. A positive sense of community and connection grows. The Dad Difference is a testament to the power of fathers as leaders and role models and a practical guide to working with them as educational partners.

Informed by experience and inspired by the dads whose voices appear in the book, education leaders Chacko Abraham and Deborah R. Higdon explore the transformative nature of effective father engagement programs. You'll learn…

What the research says—how fathers' presence and absence affect student success and well-being and the overwhelming case for getting dads more involved in school.
How to get started—advice for building a foundation of effective collaboration, from getting fathers on the phone and in the building to connecting them with peers and leveraging their talents and presence as committed partners.
How to keep going—smart ways to navigate obstacles to father engagement, including dads feeling out of place, having irregular work schedules, and being physically distant.

You'll also find a starter kit of effective father engagement strategies—20 different activities that can expand your school's capacity, foster strong school-home relationships, and boost confidence and belonging in both kids and dads. If you're looking for a low-cost, research-backed way to improve students' academic, social, and emotional outcomes, The Dad Difference is for you.