Decoding NAEP: What Families Know and What We Can Do

This Decoding NAEP session, co-sponsored by the National Parents Union (NPU) brought together a panel of parent leaders to explore the role of data in empowering parents, strengthening advocacy, and ensuring that all children — especially those furthest from opportunity — have access to the support they need.

What Parents Want: 

Parents don’t just want data; they want timely, clear, and actionable information about their children’s progress, interventions, and learning opportunities. They want to be co-designers of solutions, not just recipients of programs.

Panelists emphasized the need for data about their individual students as well as data that represents all students, including Native American, children of color and lower-income families — not just those with the biggest gaps. As one participant shared in the chat, “Data belongs to the people. Data belongs to students, families, and communities!”

What You Can Do: 

• Engage parents as co-designers — Go into your community and create spaces for real dialogue.
• Be a listener — Understand what parents need and value in education.
• Build relationships with diverse communities — Ensure all families see themselves in the data and decision-making processes.
• Model consistency — Trust is built through ongoing, meaningful engagement.

The conversation made one thing clear, when parents have access to data, they have power. They can advocate, partner, and push for solutions that help children thrive. The challenge ahead is ensuring that every family — not just a select few — has that access.