Families & the Community
Education news, analysis, and opinion about efforts to engage parents and community members in the education of young people.
See also: Parents, Community Engagement, Communications
- Families & the Community 3 Signs That Schools Are Sending the Wrong Message About AttendanceHow schools communicate attendance policies can affect how parents report absences and whether students are motivated to show up.Families & the Community Video Faced With the Possibility of School Closure, Parents Sprang Into ActionDue to financial challenges, a Texas district was considering closing several schools. These parents came together in search of a solution.Families & the Community Some Students Are Less Likely to Have Absences Excused. Why That Matters for SchoolsSchools' punitive responses to unexcused absences can be counterproductive, a new analysis suggests.Families & the Community Q&A How One High School Became a Model for Intergenerational LearningSchool and community leaders say “there’s no down side.”Families & the Community Video How School Districts and Families Can Better Engage With Each OtherIdeas for districts and families looking to build a collaborative and productive relationships.Families & the Community A Town Put a Senior Center in Its High School, Offering a Model for an Aging NationWhen crowded classrooms pushed Swampscott, Mass., to consider building a new high school, some innovative thinkers saw another opportunity.Families & the Community Engaging Latino Parents: One District's Success StorySchools need to set up systems that make participation possible, advocates say.Families & the Community Teachers Say a New Parents' Bill of Rights Doesn't Solve Schools' ProblemsThree teachers worry that a proposed federal law would drive a wedge between parents and educators.Families & the Community Q&A A Transgender Student Moved Cross-Country for a Welcoming School. Here's Their StoryDandelion Hunt-Smith and their parents talk about the importance of welcoming schools for mental health and academic performance.Families & the Community What the Push for Parents’ Rights Means for SchoolsConservative parents and politicians are pushing for parents' bills of rights, but what they actually mean for schools is untested.Families & the Community What the Research Says Parents Today: Less 'Helicoptering,' More Concern About Kids' Mental HealthA new survey shows how parents' priorities for their children could be shifting.Families & the Community Photo Essay PHOTOS: 'It's Just So Hard Not to Smile When We're Doing This'EdWeek photographer Ash Ponders reflects on their day with Cyndi Tercero-Sandoval, a 2023 Leaders To Learn From honoree.Families & the Community Parents' Bad Behavior at School Sports Events Has Gotten ExtremeA adult brawl with deadly consequences at a boys' basketball game has renewed concern.Families & the Community Poll: Parents Don't Want Schools to Focus on Culture WarsTwo-thirds of voters and parents aren't worried about teachers indoctrinating kids or teaching CRT, according to a December 2022 poll.Families & the Community How Schools Can Benefit From the Power of Positive ParentsParents and administrators share what worked in their school-change efforts.