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 This blog is no longer being updated, but you can continue to explore these issues on edweek.org by visiting our related topic pages: families & the community.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 Parent Media Use, Attitudes Probed By New Study
Common Sense Media released a new study which measured the limits parents put on their children's media use, and how much time they spend with media themselves.
Leo Doran, December 6, 2016
2 min read
President-elect Donald Trump gives his acceptance speech during his election night rally on Nov. 9 in New York.
President-elect Donald Trump gives his acceptance speech during his election night rally on Nov. 9 in New York.
John Locher/AP
Education Experts Weigh In on How Trump's $20 Billion School Choice Plan Would Work
President-elect Donald Trump's biggest education pitch during the presidential campaign was for a $20 billion voucher program that students could use at both public and private schools.
Alyson Klein, November 18, 2016
4 min read
Education U.S. Dept. of Ed. Announces 2016 Grantees for Federal Charter Schools Program
Eight states and 15 charter school networks are named the 2016 grant recipients of the federal Charter Schools Program.
Arianna Prothero, September 30, 2016
2 min read
Education Nevada High Court: State's Private School Choice Program Is Unlawfully Funded
The decision was based on how the voucher-like program is financed, not on the program itself, which is unprecedented in its scope.
Arianna Prothero, September 30, 2016
3 min read
Education Charter Advocates Send Letter Asking NAACP to Drop Call for Charter Ban
The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools and the Black Alliance for Educational Options organized a group of 160 black educators, advocates, lawmakers and religious leaders to sign a letter to the NAACP.
Arianna Prothero, September 22, 2016
2 min read
School Choice & Charters Federal Report: Schools Need Clarity on Choice and Funding Issues
"Providing quality information to clarify requirements and responsibilities—including adapting to emerging trends—is a key federal internal control," a Government Accountability Office report states.
Andrew Ujifusa, September 13, 2016
4 min read
Equity & Diversity Vouchers Key for Student Success, Says New 'Never Trump' Candidate
"I see it as a way for children that are growing up in low-income families or in families that are below the poverty line to have a chance," Evan McMullin said in an interview.
Andrew Ujifusa, August 11, 2016
1 min read
School Choice & Charters Washington State's Charter School Law Faces Another Lawsuit
A group of parents backed by organizations that include the Washington Education Association is challenging the latest iteration of Washington state's charter law.
Arianna Prothero, August 4, 2016
2 min read
School Choice & Charters What Did Trump and Clinton Say About School Choice at Conventions?
School choice was a far larger topic at the Republican National Convention than it was at the Democratic gathering in Philadelphia last month.
Sarah Tully, August 1, 2016
1 min read
Assessment Florida Parents Turn to GoFundMe To Fight 3rd Grade Retention Law
Florida parents are attempting to raise funds to file a lawsuit so that 3rd graders won't be retained this year based on standardized tests.
Sarah Tully, August 1, 2016
1 min read
Families & the Community New York Plans Family-Engagement Grants Inspired by My Brother's Keeper
New York state is allocating $20 million for initiatives to help boys and young men of color, including $6 million for school district family engagement programs this year.
Sarah Tully, July 29, 2016
1 min read
School Choice & Charters First 'Parent Trigger' School Can Stay In District-Owned Building, Arbitrator Rules
Desert Trails Preparatory Academy is continuing to operate in an Adelanto Elementary School District building, even though it now has a charter agreement under the county education board, under an arbitrator's ruling
Sarah Tully, July 29, 2016
1 min read
School Choice & Charters Does Man Blamed For Failed Turkish Coup Have Ties to U.S. Charter Schools?
Fethullah Gulen, who the Turkish president is blaming for the recent failed military coup, allegedly has ties to U.S. charter schools.
Arianna Prothero, July 27, 2016
2 min read
Families & the Community Recent Stories About Efforts to Involve Parents in Schools
A news roundup of stories about parent engagement include a piece about enrolling students in Detroit schools, getting parents involved in a struggling Bronx school, and balancing influence in schools' parent groups.
Sarah Tully, July 26, 2016
1 min read