Parents

Education news, analysis, and opinion about how parents and other family members interact with schools and their children’s education
Four-year-old Ethan Quinn leaves home for his daycare center in Concord, Calif., Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023. Ethan's parents opted to keep him in a private daycare center instead of enrolling him in “transitional kindergarten” — a program offered for free by California elementary schools for some 4-year-olds. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
A four-year-old prepares to leave home for his daycare center in Concord, Calif., on Nov. 1, 2023. His parents chose private daycare over California’s free “transitional kindergarten” program for some 4-year-olds—a decision that reflects how families often navigate limited time, work demands, and early education options in shaping school readiness.
Jae C. Hong/AP
Early Childhood Teachers Blame Parents for Young Learners' Deficits. But There's a Bigger Story
Teachers and parents are experiencing similar levels of stress caring for and educating kids.
Elizabeth Heubeck, April 30, 2026
•
5 min read
Photo collage of a young English learner student working at his desk. His photo is inside a circle and on a blue background. The blue background is split if 4 quadrants with a subtle brick wall texture. Inside the 4 quadrants are silhouettes of a woman writing on a clipboard, a parent holding the hand of a young girl, a police officer, and two speech bubbles.
Gina Tomko/Education Week + Canva
English Learners From Our Research Center What Educators Say English Learners Need Most
Educators spoke of the need for more training in a national survey on English-learner instruction.
Ileana Najarro, April 23, 2026
•
3 min read
Conceptual illustration of classroom conversations and fragmented education elements coming together to form a cohesive picture of a book of classroom knowledge.
Sonia Pulido for Education Week
Families & the Community Opinion 'Easy, Positive, and Judgment Free.' How Families Can Support Their Children
Educators share their best advice for working with parents and guardians on student learning.
Larry Ferlazzo, April 22, 2026
•
12 min read
A class portrait session at a New York City middle school.
A New York City middle school holds a class portrait session on May 5, 2021. The school photo giant Lifetouch this past winter found itself swept up in viral social media rumors about an alleged connection to the financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Michael Loccisano/Getty
School & District Management Q&A How a School Photo CEO Dealt With a Jeffrey Epstein Conspiracy Theory
Lifetouch's CEO discusses the company's response to social media rumors alleging ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
Caitlynn Peetz Stephens, April 21, 2026
•
7 min read
EdWeek Lullaby Crisis
Taylor Callery for Education Week
Artificial Intelligence Opinion AI Can Read to Our Children. That Doesn’t Mean It Should
Are AI tools encroaching on the acts of care that define parenting and teaching?
Anne Tapp Jaksa, April 20, 2026
•
5 min read
L1230272
Students in a history class at Sapulpa Middle School in Oklahoma take a break from using technology, focusing instead on group activities involving worksheets and discussion on April 7, 2026. A growing number of schools across the country are using approaches to cut back on screen time in classrooms.
September Dawn Bottoms for Education Week
Classroom Technology The Ed-Tech Backlash Is Here. What It Means for Schools
Many educators and parents are worried that overuse of tech in schools is hurting learning.
Alyson Klein & Lauraine Langreo, April 20, 2026
•
12 min read
Kindergartener Jaxon Schofield-Wood leaps off the bus excited for his first day of school on Monday, Aug. 21, 2023, at Thomson Elementary School in Davison, Mich.
A kindergartener leaps off the bus excited for his first day of school on Aug. 21, 2023, in Davison, Mich. Since 2017, the practice of redshirting has remained fairly steady at about 5% of all would-be incoming kindergartners, save for a bump during the pandemic among all children—most notably from families in high-poverty school districts.
Jake May/The Flint Journal via AP
Early Childhood Has the Practice of Redshirting Kindergartners Peaked?
Holding kids back from kindergarten may be less popular than expected. Here's why.
Elizabeth Heubeck, April 1, 2026
•
5 min read
Students from Columbus, Ohio, wait outside a barrier as U.S. Capitol Police watch over the East Plaza where congressional leaders will have a news conferences on the government shutdown at the Capitol in Washington, on Oct. 15, 2025.
Students from Columbus, Ohio, wait outside a barrier at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, where congressional leaders were having a news conference about the federal government shutdown on Oct. 15, 2025. A new survey shows students want more of a voice in shaping government decisions.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
Student Well-Being & Movement Parents and Kids Feel Shut Out of Policymaking. What Schools Should Know
New survey reveals parents and kids want more voice in government decisions.
Arianna Prothero, March 31, 2026
•
4 min read
Scenes from a visit to Morrisville Middle/Senior High School in Morrisville, Pa., on Nov. 13, 2025.
Backpacks at a middle/senior high school in Morrisville, Pa., on Nov. 13, 2025. A new analysis explores the progress of schools in fighting chronic absenteeism when they communicated early with families of students at risk of becoming chronically absent.
Rachel Wisniewski for Education Week
Student Absenteeism Schools Made Steady Progress Boosting Attendance With This Strategy Change
The timing and tenor of communication with families matter, according to a new analysis.
Caitlynn Peetz Stephens, March 25, 2026
•
5 min read
swingspaces pgk 38
A sign reminds students about classroom norms at an elementary school on Aug. 15, 2025 in Bowie, Md. Many teachers in a recent Education Week survey said student behavior was a top problem—and affected their morale.
Pete Kiehart for Education Week
Teaching Profession Teachers Say Student Behavior Has Made the Job (Almost) Impossible
Teachers say their morale is affected when student misbehavior is on the rise.
Olina Banerji, March 24, 2026
•
3 min read
Bruce Perry, 17, demonstrates the possibilities of artificial intelligence by creating an AI companion on Character.AI,, July 15, 2025, in Russellville, Ark.
A 17-year-old in Russellville, Ark., creates an AI companion on Character.AI, on July 15, 2025. In a recent survey, parents said AI chatbots should be required to provide pop-up warnings before displaying sensitive topics related to violence, self-harm, or abuse.
Katie Adkins/AP
Artificial Intelligence How Do Parents Want Schools to Handle AI? Insights From a New Survey
Regardless of political affiliation, 79% of parents want more protection for kids.
Jennifer Vilcarino, March 16, 2026
•
4 min read
Image of a laptop with prompts floating in the air.
Education Week + iStock/Getty
Artificial Intelligence Teens Say They Should Be Able to Use AI to Complete Assignments. Parents Disagree
That tension is rising as many schools are expanding their use of AI.
Alyson Klein, March 9, 2026
•
2 min read
The Supreme Court is photographed, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, in Washington.
The Supreme Court is photographed, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, in Washington. The high court recently ruled that California policies that sometimes limit or discourage schools from disclosing information to parents about children’s gender transitions and expressions at school likely violate parents’ constitutional rights
Rahmat Gul/AP
Law & Courts Supreme Court’s Gender Identity Ruling Leaves Schools Seeking Clarity
Advocates say they would welcome more from the Supreme Court on gender-notification policies.
Mark Walsh, March 6, 2026
•
7 min read
Dr. Sara Bode (far right) high fives Juri Sleet, 4, after she and Crystal Webb, a kindergarten readiness coordinator talk with Sleet's grandma, Quintina Davis (left) about the literacy screening they gave Sleet at Linden Primary Care Center at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio.
Dr. Sara Bode (far right) high fives Juri Sleet, 4, after she and Crystal Webb, a kindergarten readiness coordinator, talk with Sleet's grandmother, Quintina Davis (left), about the literacy screening they gave Sleet at Linden Primary Care Center at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio.
Jessica Phelps/AP
Early Childhood Q&A Assessing Kindergarten Readiness—During Routine Pediatric Checkups
An Ohio pediatric hospital's clinics assess preschoolers' literacy readiness during routine visits.
Elizabeth Heubeck, March 6, 2026
•
8 min read