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Learning Heroes Unveils New Report: Centering Families in the Future of Education

In a significant development for K-12 education, Learning Heroes has introduced its report, Centering Families in the Future of Education: Insights & Perspectives From 10 Years of Research, during the Grantmakers for Education 2025 Annual Conference. This report encapsulates a decade's worth of research dedicated to enhancing family-school partnerships, aiming to improve student and school outcomes in an evolving educational landscape.

The Voice of Parents in Education

Bibb Hubbard, Founder and CEO of Learning Heroes, emphasizes the critical role that parents play today, stating, "Parents today have unprecedented voice and choice in their children's education, yet, too often, lack the information to make confident, informed decisions." With insights drawn from parents, students, educators, and principals, this report outlines a clearer roadmap to foster effective partnerships between families and schools, enabling every child to thrive academically.

Bridging the Perception Gap

A striking finding within the report reveals a substantial "perception gap" between parents and actual student performance. While approximately 88% of parents believe their child is performing at or above grade level in reading and math, only about 30% of eighth-graders actually achieve that status according to national benchmarks. To mitigate this gap, Learning Heroes presents several strategies, including more transparent communication between home and school, and increased support for families navigating learning differences or exploring alternative educational pathways.

Key Insights from the Report

This comprehensive report highlights ten insightful findings designed to improve family engagement and support student outcomes:

1. Mind the Gap: There's a major disconnect between parental perceptions and actual student performance indicators. Educators need to provide clearer information for families to take timely action.

2. Reckon with Report Cards: Traditional grading often misrepresents a child's progress. By offering clarity through state assessments, parents' perception of their child's performance changes notably, resulting in greater engagement with teachers.

3. Spark Action Through Awareness: Parents informed about their child's struggles, particularly in math, are more inclined to initiate discussions with educators, thereby enhancing collaborative efforts to address academic challenges.

4. Prioritize the Parent-Teacher Team: Establishing trust at the core of the home-school dynamic is essential. Schools that create structured time for parental engagement witness improved outcomes as families collaborate with educators.

5. Make Family Engagement a Strategy: Schools need to embed family engagement within their core objectives, leading to successful initiatives like increased attendance and improved academic performance post-pandemic.

6. Define Success After High School: Families aspire for diverse educational and career pathways. They require guidance to navigate these options and understand the pathways available post-secondary school.

7. Connect Social, Emotional, and Academic Growth: Parents value a balance between rigorous academics and the holistic development of their children, underscoring the importance of including life skills within academic instruction.

8. Learning Differences Are Common: With nearly 20% of students facing learning differences, families need more accessible support and information to navigate educational evaluations and interventions.

9. Lose the Edu-Jargon: Educational terminology can often alienate families. Simplifying language helps build trust and encourages parental involvement.

10. Engagement Works at Every Grade Level: Effective family engagement positively impacts attendance and academic achievement across all educational levels, particularly during critical middle school years.

Looking Ahead

Learning Heroes plans to delve deeper into these insights through a roundtable discussion at the ongoing Grantmakers for Education 2025 Annual Conference in Memphis, Tennessee. Educators, families, and community partners are encouraged to explore the full report to gain a comprehensive understanding of actionable strategies that can create effective family-school partnerships.

About Learning Heroes

Established in 2014, Learning Heroes is dedicated to fostering partnerships built on trust between families and schools, with a focus on student success and thriving communities. As a national nonprofit, the organization collaborates with educational stakeholders to solidify the home-school relationship, delivering actionable insights and tools that bolster student learning and emotional well-being.