Educational Advocacy: Unleashing Parental Empowerment Without Creating a Divide Between Families and Schools

An artificial intelligence search on educational advocacy may lead investigators to this notion: "In today's fast-changing educational world, parents play a crucial role as more than just caregivers. They are key advocates for their children's education, driving positive changes that impact academic success and emotional well-being. Educational advocacy actions can include everything from attending school board meetings to lobbying for better educational opportunities at the state level." Although educational advocacy empowers parents, it should never diminish the partnership with educators. Students benefit most from all stakeholders working together.

Agreed, "when parents understand their rights and roles in the education system, they transform into powerful agents of change." However, many have taken this role as an adversarial position with schools. A more beneficial process focuses on building strong connections between parents, teachers, and decision-makers, creating a community where everyone’s contribution is valued.

Educational research and review of daily practice shows better school attendance for children who have caregivers that are engaged in their education. In turn, the students may experience greater academic achievement. Benefits don't end there. Families involved in the child's schooling experience can provide a valuable fund of knowledge about the student to help the school provide adequate support. School staff that engage with parent advocates will typically advance their level of communication to priority status.

Suggested parent advocacy actions:

• Communicate Effectively: Parents should ask questions and share concerns as early as possible. Consistent communication with teachers allows for more thorough monitoring of their child's progress. Both the parent and school officials should be willing to serve as active listeners and offer meaningful suggestions. When communicating effectively, they become a problem-solving team, or better yet advance student opportunities for enrichment before problems arise.

  
  

• Engage with the System: A solid grasp of how the educational system operates enables parents to seek out resources and necessary assistance, ensuring children receive the appropriate help they need. When unaware of current operational systems, parents are left to make assumptions, rely on former practices that may be outdated, and use fear of the unknown to serve as a barrier to communication.

• Join Parent-Teacher Organizations (PTOs): PTOs offer an excellent way for parents to connect with educators and support school initiatives. Attending regular PTO Meetings gives parents more opportunities to learn about priorities and engage in conversations around important schooling decisions.

• Attend Workshops and Training Programs: Workshops focused on parental advocacy help equip parents with essential skills. Additional training can focus on educational resources and parent-specific support.

These actions not only uplift individual children but also build a stronger push for quality education in the community. Parent advocates are not people we should shy away from; their advocacy is representative of their passion, desire to learn, and commitment to the success of children's education. In that way, they are more like educators than different.

Our communities can build greater resilience among families when parents and schools advocate together. Sharing a similar sense of mission brings parents and educators together. We do not have to be divided by party lines, school vs. family, or us vs. them mentalities. We can all choose to advocate together on behalf of securing a brighter future for our children; one filled with unity, hope, and achievement.