Parents

Education news, analysis, and opinion about how parents and other family members interact with schools and their children’s education
Illustration of a large brick wall with graduation cap and books on top of the wall and two silhouetted males sitting and standing at the base of wall and looking up.
Gina Tomko/Education Week + Canva
Student Achievement What the Research Says Socioeconomic Status Matters in Student Achievement—But It’s Not Everything
Data suggests that a significant portion of the achievement gap could be tied to socioeconomic status.
Brooke Schultz, August 23, 2024
5 min read
Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks on crime and safety during a campaign event at the Livingston County Sheriff's Office, Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024, in Howell, Mich.
Former President Donald Trump speaks about crime and safety during a campaign event at the Livingston County Sheriff's Office in Howell, Mich., on Aug. 20, 2024. Trump will speak for the second time at the annual summit of Moms for Liberty, the conservative parents' rights organization announced.
Evan Vucci/AP
Federal Trump Will Return to Moms for Liberty Summit as Keynote Speaker
At the group's 2023 meeting, the former president pledged to eliminate the Education Department and have parents elect principals.
Libby Stanford, August 21, 2024
3 min read
 Illustration of artificial intelligence and motherboard in the shape of a lightbulb with two head profiles on either side, both containing circuit imagery inside and a female sitting on top of one working on a laptop.
DigitalVision Vector
Special Education AI's Potential in Special Education: What Teachers and Parents Think
A report examines parents' and educators' perspectives on AI use for students with disabilities.
Lauraine Langreo, August 1, 2024
3 min read
Illustration of a big business man's hand holding a magnet attracting money from a line up of diverse peoples' wallets.
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School & District Management When Schools Charge for Meals and Field Trips, Parents Often Pay Transaction Fees
Paying bills online is easy, but comes at a significant cost for low-income families in particular, a new federal report shows.
Mark Lieberman, July 30, 2024
5 min read
Back of a teen girl walking home from school while wearing a backpack with one strap hanging off her shoulder.
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Student Well-Being The Influential Allies These Schools Are Enlisting to Boost Attendance
A newly formed group of school districts will rely on the help of their communities to craft absence-fighting strategies.
Caitlynn Peetz, July 24, 2024
4 min read
Parents, students, and staff of Chino Valley Unified School District hold up flags and signs in favor of protecting LGBTQ+ policies at the school board meeting held at Don Antonio Lugo High School on June 15, 2023, in Chino, Calif.
Parents, students, and staff of Chino Valley Unified School District hold up flags and signs in favor of protecting LGBTQ+ policies at a school board meeting on June 15, 2023, in Chino, Calif. The district is now suing Gov. Gavin Newsom over a new law banning districts from requiring educators to notify parents if their child requests to use a different name or pronouns in school.
Anjali Sharif-Paul/The Orange County Register via AP
School Climate & Safety Student Pronoun Policies Put Teachers in a Tough Spot
Teachers have to navigate policies that require them to inform parents when students request the use of different pronouns.
Elizabeth Heubeck, July 23, 2024
5 min read
Illustration of a large hand holding a puzzle piece that shows a handshake and that connects two other pieces -- one with a man and the other with a woman.
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School & District Management How Principals Can Resolve Heated Conflicts With Parents and Teachers
Three tips for school leaders to manage complicated and emotional disagreements.
Olina Banerji, July 19, 2024
4 min read
Illustration concept of emotional intelligence, showing a woman balancing emotion control using her hand to balance smile and sad face icons.
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Student Well-Being Q&A How to Address Parents' Concerns That SEL Goes Against Their Values
A Texas instructional coach shares insights she has learned from talking with hesitant parents.
Arianna Prothero, July 18, 2024
3 min read
Image of a cellphone being erased by a pencil.
Kotryna Zukauskaite for Education Week
Ed-Tech Policy Q&A Why Many Schools' Strict Cellphone Policies May Not Go Far Enough
A national advocacy group says schools need all-day bans on devices.
Elizabeth Heubeck, July 18, 2024
6 min read
Parents, students, and staff of Chino Valley Unified School District hold up signs in favor of protecting LGBTQ+ policies at Don Antonio Lugo High School, in Chino, Calif., June 15, 2023. California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law Monday, July 15, 2024, barring school districts from passing policies that require schools to notify parents if their child asks to change their gender identification.
Parents, students, and staff of Chino Valley Unified School District hold up signs in favor of protecting LGBTQ+ policies at Don Antonio Lugo High School, in Chino, Calif., June 15, 2023. California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law Monday, July 15, 2024, barring school districts from passing policies that require schools to notify parents if their child asks to change their gender identification.
Anjali Sharif-Paul/The Orange County Register via AP
Equity & Diversity Should Schools Tell Parents When Students Change Pronouns? California Says No
The law bans schools from passing policies that require notifying parents if their child asks to change their gender identification.
Brooke Schultz, July 16, 2024
5 min read
A group of fourth grade students complete lessons in Spanish in the Global Immersion Academy program at Mountain View Elementary School, on Sept. 18, 2022, in Morganton, N.C. With the inaugural class of the Global Immersion Academy (GIA) at at the school entering fourth grade this year, Burke County Public Schools is seeing more signs of success for its dual language program.
Fourth-grade students complete lessons in Spanish in the Global Immersion Academy program at Mountain View Elementary School, on Sept. 18, 2022, in Morganton, N.C. New national poll data finds a majority of parents prefer bilingual education programs.
Jason Koon/The News-Herald via AP
English Learners How Parents Feel About Bilingual Schools and English-Only Programs
A majority of parents would prefer to enroll their children in bilingual education programs.
Ileana Najarro, June 21, 2024
4 min read
Student hanging on a tearing graduate cap tassel
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School & District Management Grad Rates Soared at a School Few Wanted to Attend. How It Happened
Leaders at this Florida high school have "learned to be flexible" to improve graduation rates.
Olina Banerji, June 21, 2024
8 min read
A pair of hands type on a blank slate of keys that are either falling apart or coming together on a bed of sharpened pencils.  Leadership resources.
Raul Arias for Education Week
School & District Management Opinion Don’t Just Listen to the Loudest Voices: Resources for Ed. Leaders
These resources can help school and district leaders communicate with their communities.
Jennifer Perry Cheatham & Jenny Portillo-Nacu, June 20, 2024
5 min read
Empty desks within a classroom
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Families & the Community Parents Call Chronic Absenteeism a Problem, But Most Can't Define It
A new poll sheds light on parents' views on chronic absenteeism and acceptable reasons to miss school.
Evie Blad, June 7, 2024
3 min read