Culturally Responsive Conversations

4STAYING MINDFUL OF NUANCES

Decades of research show that parental involvement in their child's education is a vital component for their academic success. For this reason, the U.S. federal government has enacted two critical policies in this regard. The No Child Left Behind Act, established in 2001, specifies that meaningful communication between parents and teachers is an important aspect of a student's achievement. Then, in 2015, the Every Student Succeeds Act called for the use of federal funds to promote parental engagement with their child's school.

However, not all communication is good communication. When teachers talk with parents, the words they use matter, as discussed in previous chapters. This is especially true when communicating ...