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 Pomp and Khaki Pants: What to Consider When Setting Graduation Dress CodesDistrict leaders should consider equity, enforcement, and community relationships when setting graduation dress standards.
Families & the Community Video How Parents Engage With Their Local School BoardsThrough seats on the board, positions in their PTA, and as individuals, parents can engage with their school boards in a number of ways.
Families & the Community New Campaign Tries to Convince Parents That Their Kids Have Fallen BehindA new advertising campaign in six cities aims to dispel parents' perceptions that their kids are performing at grade level.
Families & the Community Video Reports of Radioactive Contamination Closed Their School. This PTA Is Demanding AnswersAfter their Missouri elementary school was closed, a group of parents have tried to engage with the district on the school’s future.
Families & the Community Video These Moms Ran for Their Local School Board and Won. Here’s What They've LearnedAfter their district brought on a new superintendent, these Michigan moms decided to run for their local school board, and they won.
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 OtherHere are ideas for districts and families looking to build 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.
