They’re the stuff of every happy ending in movies or on tv: Proud parents in the stands or in the auditorium seats, cheering on their children as they succeed on stage, in the classroom, or on the athletic field.

But for too many American families, the demands of work and the economy make it hard for parents to be there when their kids need them the most. But a bill sponsored by two Democratic lawmakers from Philadelphia .

On Monday, Reps. Donna Bullock and Elizabeth Fiedler  for a bill requiring employers to give eligible parents eight hours of unpaid leave a year to attend school-related activities.

Parents of children living with a disability, or those with an individualized education program would be allowed an additional four hours of leave, the two lawmakers wrote in a memo seeking support for their proposal.

“As legislators, we have an obligation to provide a framework for employers to allow parent-employees the scheduling flexibility to be involved with their children’s education,” Bullock and Fiedler wrote in their memo to their House colleagues.

 that  leads to better outcomes for students, from higher grades and test scores to more regular school attendance and better social skills.

“Parent involvement motivates children to learn, leading to higher grades,” according to the education website Positive Action.

That level of involvement “is crucial in producing a high impact on the student’s performance. The higher the degree of parental involvement, the higher the impact on the child’s academic achievement,” the group .

In their memo to their colleagues, Bullock and Fiedler offered a similar sentiment.

“Students with engaged parents or other caregivers earn higher grades and test scores, have better social skills, and show improved behavior,” the two lawmakers wrote. “The connection can make a difference at all age levels and the more intensively involved parents are, the greater the positive impact.”

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