Talking to Parents Begins with Listening to Parents
By Paige Kowalski, Director, State Policy and Advocacy, Data Quality Campaign
In the current education space, there are suddenly numerous groups and spokespeople to “get the parent voice” out there in the debate. We have parent groups that want to see Common Core State Standards replaced, or student privacy better protected, or better teacher quality policies enacted. Parent voices are critical to listen to because they are voicing real concerns about their children education. But, as a parent myself, I wonder if it is truly possible for a single group’s voice to represent a body of such diverse individuals. After all, the only real thing that parents have in common is the single decision to become a parent in the first place. It is possible that the only parent voice that might be heard is simply the loudest and not the most representative of views. How can we better understand what parents really want? How can we make sure that we are using our communications opportunities to provide real, accurate, and clear information to parents about current education policies and practices?
Read More →Educators, Administrators and PTA Leaders Break Down the Common Core in New Video Series
By Shannon Sevier, Vice President for Advocacy for National PTA
National PTA recently released a video series on the Common Core to educate parents on the standards and empower them to support the implementation of the standards at school and home. The series was developed in partnership with The Hunt Institute as part of the association’s ongoing efforts to provide accurate information about the Common Core, ensure parents are knowledgeable about the standards and new assessments, and support parents every step of the way as states transition to the standards.
Read More →EdTrust-West Speaks Out Against CA Testing Ban
The Education Trust-West – a statewide educational policy, research, and advocacy organization that works for the high academic achievement of all students at all levels – spoke out in support of the Obama Administration’s efforts to protect the rights of students, parents and educators in the following article, “National and State Organizations Respond to Elimination […]
Read More →NBC News Unveils Parent Toolkit
In an effort to aid parents understanding of the new Common Core State Standards, NBC News’ Education Nation team created an easily accessible parent toolkit to help parents participate in their children’s academic success and personal growth. This free resource is a one-stop-shop for parents as a website and mobile app, and includes:
Read More →The Power of Parents in the First State: Delaware PTA and the Common Core
Never underestimate the power of the parent’s voice! While there are models that assist schools with parent and family engagement such as Epstein’s Framework of Parent Involvement, parents can also play a pivotal role in partnering with policymakers and stakeholders in education. This partnership allows parents a voice in decisions that affect their children’s education. Through its work to ensure that parents understand upcoming changes brought about by the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), the Delaware PTA (DPTA) has helped to raise the parent voice to create a significant impact across the state.
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