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Parent Involvement

Parent involvement is widely seen as important to the success of students, particularly students from low-income families. Under the new school finance system, parents are expected to play a bigger role by participating in district financial decisions, particularly regarding the spending of extra dollars districts have received for high-needs students: low-income students, English learners and foster youth.

Coronavirus
September 25, 2020

Waiting lists for home-school programs as parents grow weary of distance learning

Home-schooling programs have seen a surge of interest since campuses closed in March. Parents are looking for flexibility and control.

Diana Lambert
Distance Learning
August 28, 2020

Low-income parents turn to neighbors, family for help with distance learning

Parent leaders can be crucial for helping low-income families and those who do not speak English navigate distance learning.

Zaidee Stavely
Commentary
June 22, 2020

Getting to 100% student engagement in distance learning

Teachers can partner with students, families and colleague to establish a caring classroom community, even if it’s from a distance.

Jessie Welcomer
Distance Learning
May 18, 2020

How some California charter schools support students during distance learning

Some charter schools with technology already in place are putting greater emphasis on family support during the coronavirus pandemic.

Sydney Johnson
Coronavirus
May 7, 2020

Parents’ appreciation for teachers grows, but sentiments are simpler

Instead of decorations, gifts and luncheons, Teacher Appreciation Week is a little simpler this year.

Diana Lambert
Coronavirus
April 28, 2020

Parents struggle to find resources, fit into new role as their children’s teacher

Parents are juggling the responsibility of being their children's teacher with their jobs and other obligations during the coronavirus pandemic.

Diana Lambert
Coronavirus
April 16, 2020

Q&A: Homeschool expert advises parents to 'do what’s best' for your family

Many parents have questions about how to take on the role of educating their children during school closures due to the coronavirus pandemic

Theresa Harrington
High-needs students
January 15, 2020

San Francisco Bay Area parents declare state of emergency over district’s failure to educate black children

Parents want the district to allocate $7.2 million to improve services for the district’s 5,000 African-American students.

Theresa Harrington
Early Learning
December 11, 2019

California parents, preschool teachers learn to teach math through children’s books

A series of activities designed to teach math concepts inspired by children’s books is being piloted as part of a statewide early math initiative.

Zaidee Stavely
Special Education
November 8, 2019

California spending over $13 billion annually on special education

A new Legislative Analyst’s Office report is intended to provide a “high level review” for the Legislature as it considers overdue reforms.

Louis Freedberg
East Bay
November 4, 2019

Oakland Unified moves forward with school closures despite protests

District officials offer to meet with protesters as Oakland and state teachers' unions echo demands for school closure moratorium until 2022.

Theresa Harrington
Math and Science
October 18, 2019

How one high school's dispute reflects the struggle to teach California’s science standards 

California’s new science standards emphasize an approach that combines scientific disciplines.

Sydney Johnson
October 25, 2018

Non-citizen parents hesitant to register for San Francisco’s school board elections

San Francisco is the only city in California where parents without U.S. citizenship are allowed to vote in school board elections, but only 49 registered, amid warnings that ICE could find their addresses.

Zaidee Stavely
June 25, 2018

Network of California districts to explore the elusive goal of engaging parents

The 2018-19 state budget includes $13.3 million to create a network in which teams of parents, teachers and district administrators will identify ways to listen to and act on advice from the community.

John Fensterwald
March 8, 2018

There are many benefits to starting science education early — very early

Report finds that even infants can learn abstract scientific concepts, and starting early can help them with science later on.

Carolyn Jones