When educators engage with families/caregivers and listen respectfully to their concerns and aspirations for their children, families get involved, and student achievement increases. 

What are families saying about their children’s education?
As our communities regain a sense of post-pandemic normalcy, it is imperative to assess the impact the last few years have had on the lives of our families and their students. Keep Learning California partners conducted a survey to identify the evolving needs and concerns of families across California in order to better understand what can be done to support the academic and overall success of our communities.

Download the full report here.
Download the survey press release.

Mental Health and Social-Emotional Supports

Our families have experienced unprecedented challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly those already socio-economically disadvantaged. As families return to school and work, they are left with the personal and collective trauma, loss, isolation, economic hardship, and other remnants of the last few years.

Our families are calling for mental health support and social-emotional learning (SEL) to be prioritized as an opportunity to address past challenges and create a more resilient, successful future for all.

Access to Digital Technology

Participants were asked if they had access to technology equipment that was not their own, email address and access to stable internet. The survey revealed that 49% of families did not own their own technology, 23% did not have access to email, and 10% continued to have challenges with access to stable internet.

How Concerned Are You About the Following:

Participants were asked what most concerned them. Education emerged as a topic of concern. Of those who responded, 49% said that they were either moderately or extremely concerned about their student’s academic learning.

Resources Parent’s Feel Would Be Most Helpful

Participants were asked about resources that would be most helpful. Tutoring emerged as a top resource. Of those who responded, 78% said that tutoring was either a high priority or essential.

Key results from survey include:

Mental Health

  • 39% and 38% of families reported not having access to mental health support and Social-Emotional Support

Attendance

  • 58% of families reported that their student’s experienced quarantining this academic year
  • 16% of families that reported their students had experienced quarantining, reported that their students did not have access to learning opportunities.

Engagement in Learning

  • 49% of families reported that they were either Moderately or Extremely concerned about their student’s academic learning.
  • 78% of families reported that a Tutoring resource was either a High Priority or Essential.
  • 78% of families reported that a Tutoring resource was either a High Priority or Essential.

Communication and Digital Equity

  • 49% of families reported not owning technology that does not belong to the school.
  • 23% of families reported not having email.
  • 15% of families reported their student’s school did not communicate or slightly communicate with them.
  • 12% of families reported they were either not at all comfortable with or slightly comfortable with inquiring about their student’s academics with school staff (Teacher, Principal, Counselors).
  • 67% of families reported that either much more information is needed, or the information is necessary to know regarding academic supports available at school to strengthen their student’s learning opportunities.

Tools for listening to families

Many educators want to engage with families but don’t always have the know-how. Here are some helpful tools to help educators brush up on communications skills, ask good questions and forge positive relationships with families:

This survey was made possible through the generous support of The California Community Foundation, The California Endowment, Heising-Simons Foundation and Sobrato Philanthropies.