You probably find yourself thinking a lot about your child’s academics, but what about their engagement in the arts? We interviewed Julian Bass, a two-time PTA Reflections winner, who has gone on to make a name for himself as a filmmaker and visual effects artist. He shares how his own parents supported his artistic journey and how families can encourage their children to follow their dreams.

If you’ve noticed your child is struggling with academics more than usual, but you’re not sure if it’s due to the pandemic or signs of a learning difference, we’re here to help. We spoke with Amanda Morin, writer and senior expert at Understood.org to learn strategies for supporting students with learning differences during online and hybrid learning. She offers advice on helping your kids stay organized, read social cues, manage distractions and more.

With the presidential election less than a month away, how are you talking to your kids about civic engagement? We spoke to U.S. Congresswoman Jahana Hayes, who offers wisdom from her experience in the classroom and on the Hill. She shares how families can help kids become active citizens and lifelong voters by encouraging them to contribute to their communities in meaningful ways.

Will school closures and distance learning be a temporary setback for kids’ learning or will it have a permanent effect on their education? We spoke with Ralph Smith, managing director of the Campaign for Grade Level Reading to get his perspective on the impact COVID-19 is having in the hardest hit communities. He offers suggestions for parent leaders looking to support the most vulnerable learners and their families during this challenging time.

Are you overwhelmed by all of the online resources available to your child but not sure where to start? During this unusual school year, we need to help our children find online resources that meet their needs. We turned to Merve Lapus of Common Sense Media who shared how families can set students up for success this school year. Listen to discover helpful learning resources and tips for establishing healthy online habits.

How many books on your children’s shelves feature Black and Brown characters? The stories we read to our children should be mirrors to see themselves and windows to see others who are different from them. We spoke with Newbery Medal award-winning author, Kwame Alexander about the importance of representation in kids’ literature. He shared about his own writing process, how to inspire your kids to write and some of his favorite books!

Mientras los distritos escolares planean una temporada de regreso a la escuela sin precedentes, el dinero está especialmente ajustado. Invitamos nuevamente a la Dra. Marguerite Roza, nuestra invitada de Finanzas de la Educación Básicas: El dinero habla, para que nos cuente las novedades. Ella nos cuenta qué está sucediendo actualmente en el mundo de las finanzas de la educación y cómo pueden las familias abogar por las necesidades de sus niños.

Hablamos con la Dra. Marguerite Roza, directora del Edunomics Lab, para aprender sobre el misterio de las finanzas de la educación. Ella nos brinda una guía práctica sobre cómo pueden las familias mantenerse informadas con respecto a las decisiones financieras de su distrito escolar y cómo pueden abogar por las prioridades que más les importan.

A medida que el año escolar termina virtualmente, las familias se preguntan, ¿qué viene después? Hablamos con Amalia Chamorro de UnidosUS para obtener más información sobre el impacto de COVID-19 en nuestros estudiantes Latinos y su impacto potencial en el regreso a la escuela. Amalia ofrece consejos a los padres Latinos sobre cómo pueden mantenerse actualizados, involucrardos y asegurarse que sus voces sean escuchadas y consideradas.

As school districts plan for an unprecedented back-to-school season, money is particularly tight. We invited Dr. Marguerite Roza, our guest from Education Finance 101: Money Talks, back to the show to give us an update. She shares what's currently happening in the world of education finance and how families can advocate for their child's needs.