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 This blog is no longer being updated, but you can continue to explore these issues on edweek.org by visiting our related topic pages: families & the community.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 Choice & Charters Proposed Bill Would Expand Arizona School Choice Program
A proposed bill in Arizona would expand eligibility for a school choice program first passed in 2011 to include all public school students.
Arianna Prothero, January 29, 2016
2 min read
Assessment Superintendents Think Parents Need A Primer on K-12 Education, Poll Finds
The Gallup poll also reveals that most superintendents think that measuring the success of schools should include factors such as student engagement and student hope.
Corey Mitchell, January 7, 2016
3 min read
School Choice & Charters Washington High Court Rejects Requests to Reconsider Charter School Ruling
Charter schools are unconstitutional in Washington state, and the state's high court says it will not reconsider its September decision.
Arianna Prothero, November 20, 2015
2 min read
Education Supreme Court Justice Questions Constitutional Basis for Parental Education Rights
Justice Antonin Scalia restates his doubts about the court's precedents on a constitutional right of parents to direct the upbringing of their children.
Mark Walsh, November 17, 2015
3 min read
School Choice & Charters Ohio Governor Signs Charter School Reform Bill Into Law
The Ohio legislature passed HB2 in early October, revamping the way the state regulates charter schools following reports of widespread corruption, financial mismanagement, and poor academic outcomes among some of the state's schools.
Arianna Prothero, November 2, 2015
2 min read
Education Bringing Parents of Underserved Students Into Schools: Ways to Go About It
While most teachers in the nation's schools are middle class and white, experts say diversity and poverty among students are creating a growing mismatch between educators and students and families.
Caralee J. Adams, November 1, 2015
2 min read
School Choice & Charters A Blogger's Parting Thoughts on Parents' Voice and School Improvement
Parents are increasingly making themselves heard on education issues from school reform to testing, while some districts invest in efforts to increase parent involvement.
Karla Scoon Reid, October 29, 2015
2 min read
School Choice & Charters School Choice Advocates Weigh In on Education Secretary's Resignation
Under Arne Duncan, the Department of Education has helped support and expand charter schools through grant programs including the Investing in Innovation Fund and the Charter Schools Program.
Arianna Prothero, October 5, 2015
3 min read
School Choice & Charters Gov. Inslee Won't Call Special Session to Discuss Charter Schools' Fate
In a letter sent on Friday, Inslee, a Democrat, said he would focus on improving traditional public schools instead of charters, which he said "lack public oversight and accountability."
Andrew Ujifusa, September 14, 2015
2 min read
School Choice & Charters Voter-Approved Charter School Law Struck Down by Wash. St. Supreme Court
This is the first time in the country that a state Supreme Court has struck down a charter school law, according to a national charter school group.
Arianna Prothero, September 8, 2015
1 min read
School Choice & Charters Home Schooling Advocacy Group Major Force in Shaping Oversight Policies
The Home School Legal Defense Association has been a major force in keeping home schooling regulation at a minimum, according to a story by ProPublica.
Arianna Prothero, August 31, 2015
2 min read
Families & the Community Parents and Teachers Should Talk More for Students' Sake, Survey Finds
There's a big communication gap between the two groups when it comes to sharing information about major life events in children's lives, a new survey says.
Maggie DeBlasis, August 28, 2015
2 min read
School Choice & Charters Parent Revolution Picks Former Principal, TFA Alumnus to Lead Group
The parent-advocacy organization has selected Seth Litt to take over the organization after founder Ben Austin stepped down late last year.
Arianna Prothero, August 27, 2015
1 min read
School Choice & Charters ACLU Lawsuit Aims to Block Nevada's New School Choice Law
The American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada says it's filing a lawsuit challenging the state's new school voucher-like program also known as education savings accounts.
Arianna Prothero, August 27, 2015
1 min read