Dive Brief:
- Blackboard published a new e-book examining communication in K-12 school systems, looking at trends around effective communication, crisis communication plans, social media usage, and school-to-home communication in support of student success.
- According to survey data, 51% of district leaders say communication with the parents is key to success; 86% of school principals agree.
- The e-book also states the importance of schools being able to engage digitally with parents, and the survey finds that 89% of parents prefer communicating with schools online.
Dive Insight:
Various studies back up the notion that parent-school communication has a broad and positive impact on student learning. Parent-teacher conferences in particular remain critical to student performance, and regular communication with school systems is also crucial. Many agree that family engagement is key to student achievement. It can also alleviate or even prevent behavioral problems.
Innovative new digital models now exist, and can help districts go beyond the traditional face-to-face student-teacher conferences. Those can be supplemented or supplanted with digital components, like videoconferencing. Districts have even tried paying parents to engage.
The trend of academic parent-teacher teams (APTTs) is also gaining popularity. In just five years, APTTs have spread to 250 U.S. schools. This collaborative approach encourages parents and teachers to keep their relationships going while mapping out clear academic goals that can be reinforced to children at home by families.
For districts looking to increase engagement, the U.S. Department of Education released a parental involvement framework as a blueprint for best practices.