Parents Speak: Ready for Bold Change in K–12 Education

This learning and engagement opportunity — moderated by Christine Patterson of the Walton Family Foundation — explored the findings from recent national parent polls designed to collect perspectives on schooling and what their children need to succeed post-pandemic. Tanya Rosbash of Tyton Partners shared information from Part I of their longitudinal research effort, “School Disrupted,” revealing that parents have changed how and where they are enrolling their children, with many seeking alternatives to traditional education. Peri Lynn Turnbull of the National Parents Union discussed their monthly polling process and what has been learned about parents’ concern for their children’s social and emotional well-being and their lack of confidence that schools provide the resources needed to meet these needs. Christine Patterson discussed findings from the Walton Family Foundation’s parent poll uncovering strong opinions about schools’ implementation of recovery funding and their expectations for full transparency.

Following the data presentations, Patterson engaged in conversation with five leading experts from local and national parent advocacy organizations and gained their reaction to the national polls, how the findings relate to what they have learned from their own family outreach, and the implications for their ongoing work in support of parents. Gloria Corral of the Parent Institute for Quality Education; Staci Croom-Raley of the Children’s Equity Coalition; Adrián Pedroza of Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors; Keri Rodrigues of the National Parents Union; and Lakisha Young of The Oakland Reach shared their firsthand and candid ideas about what it takes to ensure parents can access and understand the information they need from schools and have their voice heard as decision-makers implement strategies and funding for learning recovery.