As another school year begins, I find myself thinking about something that I believe is essential to a child’s success in school and yet often receives too little attention: the partnership between families and schools.

Imagine a school where parents and educators approach challenges together, where concerns are raised early, trust is already established, and everyone sees themselves as part of the same team. We would have stronger schools. Our children would thrive more. We would spend less time navigating misunderstandings and more time helping children learn, grow, and feel supported.

After all, we all want the same thing.

I often say that parents and educators need to learn how to communicate from the same side of the table. We may have different perspectives, different information, and sometimes different ideas about what a child needs, but we share a common goal: helping that child succeed.

When I was growing up, my mother came to my conferences once or twice a year, attended Back-to-School Night, and........

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