Families & the Community Blog

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 This blog is no longer being updated, but you can continue to explore these issues on edweek.org by visiting our related topic pages: families & the community.

School & District Management U.S. Dept. of Ed., Literacy Group Seek Family Engagement Answers
The National Center for Family Literacy and the U.S. Department of Education have announced a partnership to advance family engagement in education across the country.
Michele Molnar, May 20, 2013
2 min read
Families & the Community Institute: Federal Policy Based on Competition Misses 'Authentic Community Engagement'
Collaboration trumps competition in school improvement, according to a commentary by the Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University.
Michele Molnar, May 15, 2013
2 min read
States Third California 'Parent Trigger' Petition Submitted
For the third time since California's "parent trigger" law passed, parents have filed a petition for the transformation of a California elementary school. This time, parents are demanding removal of the school's administrators.
Michele Molnar, May 14, 2013
3 min read
School & District Management Choice-Group Poll: Mothers Back Vouchers, Tax-Credit Scholarships
A new poll commissioned by a foundation that supports school choice finds that 66 percent of mothers with school-age children support educational vouchers, and 69 percent support tax-credit scholarships to choose their children's schools.
Michele Molnar, May 8, 2013
1 min read
Families & the Community Parents Need Support for 'Collective Impact' Solutions
Parents who will work on "collective impact" solutions to public educations' problems often need training to understand the system, a Harvard expert says.
Michele Molnar, May 7, 2013
1 min read
Teaching Anti-Bullying Town Hall Meetings Planned
Town hall meetings to address bullying will be held around the country in a partnership between the National PTA and Discovery Education.
Michele Molnar, May 6, 2013
1 min read
Standards & Accountability Anti-Common Core Moms in Indiana Expand Outreach
Two mothers who launched a grassroots movement against the Common Core State Standards in Indiana are getting inquiries from other states.
Michele Molnar, May 3, 2013
1 min read
School & District Management Pew Research: High Rate of Parent Engagement with Libraries
Even in an era when more parents than ever can access information at home via technology, they find libraries to be important, according to a study by The Pew Research Center.
Michele Molnar, May 2, 2013
2 min read
Law & Courts Colorado Considers 'Parent Engagement Director'
A Colorado bill to establish a state position to coordinate government-mandated parent engagement requirements makes headway in the legislature.
Michele Molnar, May 1, 2013
1 min read
School Choice & Charters Florida 'Parent Trigger' Law Fails—Again
For the second year in a row, Florida lawmakers rejected a measure that would have let parents initiate overhaul of a struggling school through a petition.
Michele Molnar, April 30, 2013
2 min read
School & District Management A Look Back at 'A Nation at Risk' Report
Thirty years after "A Nation at Risk" was published, Education Week revisits the groundbreaking report.
Michele Molnar, April 26, 2013
2 min read
Teaching Article Examines School Diversity, Parental Friction
Schools are the ultimate "melting pots" in our society. What happens when parents clash?
Michele Molnar, April 22, 2013
1 min read
Families & the Community Harvard Offers Tips for Sharing Data with Families
The Harvard Family Research Project has created a new resource for administrators, teachers, and families on how to share data effectively.
Michele Molnar, April 18, 2013
1 min read
School & District Management Three Types of Parents Want to Help Schools, Study Finds
A report released today by Public Agenda identifies three types of parents poised to help education: potential transformers, school helpers, and help seekers.
Michele Molnar, April 18, 2013
3 min read