K-12 Parents and the Public
In this blog, Education Week explored the substantive role parents play in helping set the course of their children’s education and the direction of America’s public schools. This blog is no longer being updated, but you can continue to explore these issues on edweek.org by visiting our related topic pages: families & the community.
Early Childhood
Parent Engagement Pivotal Piece in Latest Early-Learning Federal Grant Competition
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan says states competing to secure federal early-learning grants should include "serious" and "intentional" strategies to engage parents.
Families & the Community
Parent Frustration Over Newark Student-Enrollment Plan Mounts
Some Newark, N.J, parents opt to keep their kids home on the first day of school to protest the district's new student enrollment plan.
Families & the Community
New York City Chancellor Revamps School District's Parent-Engagement Efforts
New York City public school parents will receive more support, education and, most importantly, time with their children's teachers this school year.
School Climate & Safety
Many Parents Uninformed About School Disaster Plans, Poll Finds
While parents fear disasters at schools, many are uninformed about schools' preparedness efforts, a poll by Save the Children found.
Equity & Diversity
Fla. School Board Candidate: Allow Some Parents With Criminal Pasts to Volunteer
Should parents who have committed nonsexual or nonviolent crimes be allowed to volunteer in schools? A Florida school board candidate proposes reviewing parents' cases individually.
Education
New Hampshire School Choice Program Survives Legal Challenge
The New Hampshire Supreme Court has overturned a lower court's ruling that the school choice program was unconstitutional.
Education
Fla. PTA Joins Lawsuit Challenging State's School Choice Program
A Florida teachers' union is backing the second lawsuit in two months challenging the state's tax-credit scholarship program.
School Choice & Charters
New Ranking Grades State School Voucher Programs
A new report from the Center for Education Reform ranks states based on the quality of their school voucher programs.
Families & the Community
Parent Advocacy Group May Sue Los Angeles District Over Parent-Trigger Law
The debate over the Los Angeles Unified School District's contention that a federal waiver exempts it from the parent-trigger law may end up in court.
Equity & Diversity
N.C. District Seeks Volunteer Path for Undocumented Parents
Can Charlotte-Mecklenburg, N.C., schools find a way to allow undocumented immigrant parents to volunteer in their children's schools?
School Choice & Charters
New North Carolina Voucher Program Blocked By Judge
North Carolina Superior Court Judge Robert Hobgood has ruled that the state's school voucher program is unconstitutional
Education
Poll Finds Public Favors Charter Schools Despite Confusion Over How They Work
Over 60 percent of respondents said they favored charter schools even though many of them did not know basic facts about how charters work.
Law & Courts
Los Angeles District Says Federal Waiver Puts Parent-Trigger Law on Hold This Year
The author of California parent-trigger law's author criticizes Los Angeles Unified School District for refusing to accept parent petitions mandating changes at poorly performing schools this year.
School Choice & Charters
Number of N.C. Home Schoolers Exceeds State's Private School Enrollment
Mounting common-core criticism in North Carolina is mentioned by some parents as a factor in choosing to home school their children, one advocate says.