3. Identify a family’s needs, then coordinate and invest resources to develop, assemble and provide the requested resources to support learning at home.
A few areas we’ve identified include: mental health and well-being, the “digital divide” and computer literacy, distance learning, strategies to support academic plan implementation and monitoring student achievement, and academic tools and resources at home.
Providing these supports in the short-term likely will require shifting resources to gather information from and for families, but we are morally obligated to take this step for equity’s sake. Establish or strengthen communication systems including translation and interpretation services to adequately support teachers and families for calls or video chats. Also, don't overlook Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and other linguistic communities.
4. Co-develop projects with families to help children learn about and be proud of their own culture, history and art, while also promoting reading and critical-thinking skills.
When children know their history and the real-life experiences of their families, when they have ideas of who or what they want to be in the future, it is easier for them to find a purpose in schoolwork and in their lives.
5. Continue to engage families and integrate their input into school site and district plans and budgets.
We invite all educators to partner with us and with families, to bring to bear our collective strengths, creativity and resilience at this pivotal moment.
Together we will not only close achievement gaps, but we can actually transform the education process itself with significant, sustained investment in those communities that have long been neglected.
It’s time we made this a more just society for
all
our children and families.
Sincerely,
Parent Organization Network Members