As we reflect on the past school year, one crucial aspect stood out: the millions of students who were missing from classrooms due to chronic absenteeism. This crisis affected districts of all sizes, raising concerns about the communication gap between schools and parents.
One nonprofit, TalkingPoints, has teamed up with Google to address this issue. By conducting a massive, AI-powered analysis of 40 million messages exchanged through its app, TalkingPoints aims to enhance communication between parents and teachers. The organization believes that engaged parents, particularly those from immigrant or low-income backgrounds, can boost student attendance and academic performance.
In their recent analysis, TalkingPoints discovered that a significant portion of the messages revolved around logistical matters, such as school closures, while only a small percentage focused on academics. This finding indicates a need for improvement in the quality of communication between educators and parents.
TalkingPoints’ founder and CEO, Heejae Lim, emphasized the importance of shifting more conversations towards student learning, behaviors, and engagement. By fostering high-quality interactions, schools can create a more supportive environment for students.
Furthermore, TalkingPoints is piloting a new approach to combat chronic absenteeism in 29 districts, utilizing their app to track absent students and identify underlying reasons for their absences. This innovative use of technology aligns with the nonprofit’s mission to address education inequities and enhance student outcomes.
The success of TalkingPoints’ strategy is backed by research, which highlights the significance of parent-teacher communication in promoting student success. Building strong connections between families and educators is crucial, especially for immigrant communities and children of immigrants.
Embracing ‘Best Practices’
TalkingPoints advocates for high-quality communication with parents, focusing on academics, positivity, and early engagement. However, their analysis revealed that only a small percentage of messages aligned with these guidelines. This underscores the need for schools to prioritize meaningful conversations that benefit students.
The inspiration behind TalkingPoints stems from Lim’s own experience as a child of Korean immigrants in London. Witnessing her mother navigate language barriers to support her education highlighted the potential impact of family engagement on student outcomes. This realization fueled Lim’s passion for improving parent-school communication and breaking down barriers to building meaningful relationships.
As we strive to create a more inclusive and supportive educational environment, initiatives like TalkingPoints play a crucial role in bridging the communication gap between schools and parents. By leveraging technology and data analysis, we can pave the way for a brighter future for all students.
