As a mom and someone who cares about education, I know how important it is for families and schools to communicate. Parents want to know how their children are doing, what is happening in the classroom, and how they can help their children succeed. But what happens when school leaders believe communication is working well while families feel differently?
New national research from Project Tomorrow and ClassDojo highlights a gap between how school district leaders perceive family communication and how families experience it. The findings raise important questions about how schools and families can work together to support students.
What Did the Research Find? The study reports a 24-percentage-point gap between district leaders’ perceptions of family satisfaction with school communication and families’ own experiences.
According to the research, district leaders recognize the importance of family engagement, but their perceptions may not always match what parents experience. That difference matters because communication is about more than sending home announcements or sharing reminders. Families need information they can understand, access when they need it, and opportunities to communicate with teachers and school staff.
Why Two-Way Communication Matters– Good communication should not be a one-way street.
Schools need ways to share classroom updates, important dates, student progress, and concerns. Families also need opportunities to ask questions, share information about their children, and work with educators when challenges arise. When communication works both ways, parents and teachers have more opportunities to understand one another and focus on what matters most: helping students learn and grow. For homeschooling families, communication and partnership can look different, but the underlying principle remains important. Parents need access to useful information and opportunities to ask questions, find resources, and support their children’s learning.
Making School Communication Easier for Families– The research from Project Tomorrow and ClassDojo identifies opportunities to strengthen individualized, two-way family engagement and simplify the K–12 communication experience.
Practical considerations for schools include making messages easier to understand, providing clear ways for families to respond, and considering whether communication methods work for families with different schedules and needs. It is also important for schools to ask families directly about their experiences instead of assuming that the communication they provide is meeting everyone’s needs. A message being sent does not necessarily mean it was received, understood, or answered.
Working Together for Students– Parents and educators share an important responsibility: supporting children’s education and well-being.
Closing the communication gap begins with listening. Schools can ask families what is working, what is confusing, and what would help them stay informed and involved. Families, in turn, can share questions and concerns so educators have a better understanding of what is happening beyond the classroom. Every family is different, and there is no single communication method that will work perfectly for everyone. Making room for feedback and meaningful conversations can help build stronger partnerships.
Read the Research
The national research was conducted by Project Tomorrow and ClassDojo and examines the relationship between school communication, family engagement, and the experiences of K–12 families and district leaders. Learn more about the research through ClassDojo’s family engagement research page.
Greatful Moments — Grateful, Thankful, and Blessed.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
