Through the unsettled ending of the last school year, to the unprecedented beginning of this one, school communities continue to exist in a state of flux. Some districts are using fully remote learning models to start, some are opting for hybrid models, while others are implementing new safety protocols to begin in-person learning. All are working through a new way of doing school, and all plans are subject to changing local situations.

As schools navigate the challenges ahead—and with parents and guardians stepping in as learning coaches and facilitators in remote and hybrid environments—communicating with families is playing an outsized role in successfully adapting to this nontraditional school year.

A spring survey of more than 3,600 U.S. parents and guardians from Learning Heroes, a nonprofit focused on helping families support their children, found parents are now, more than ever, activated to support their learners. Eighty-four percent said they felt “very” or “completely” prepared to support their child with doing schoolwork at home.

“From their new front-row seat and despite significant challenges, parents are engaging deeply in their children's remote schooling and will show up differently next school year,” write the authors.

However, less than half of parents in the survey said they received key resources—including expectations for schoolwork—from their districts. “This is a moment to establish clear expectations for parent, teacher relationships grounded in a shared understanding of the child’s progress and academic achievement,” the report authors added.

It’s a priority for many U.S. school districts. In 84 of 124 reopening plans (68 percent) analyzed by the Center for Reinventing Public Education, a research organization affiliated with the University of Washington, the district is offering guidance or training to parents on how to help students learn at home. Twenty-four districts have said they will be sharing data about students’ learning to families.

Read the full article about supporting families during an untraditional school year by Kira Keane at EdSurge.