Harness the "Power of Parents," Secretary Duncan Urges

May 3, 2010 Washington, D.C.

US Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan addressed the 2010 Mom Congress at Georgetown University today, telling a town hall of assembled delegates from 50 states and an audience full of education activists that America needs to "harness the power of parents" if we are going to transform public education.

Speaking on the role that family involvement plays in improving our nation's schools, Secretary Duncan shared a story of President Obama's visit to South Korea, where the President was told the biggest problem in education in that country is that there are "too many parents demanding excellence" in the schools. Duncan urged those of us in attendance to be those parents demanding excellence, by:
*becoming partners, advocates, and decisionmakers
*demanding change
*setting reasonable limits for children on TV and electronic media
*becoming active and involved at your child's school

Duncan cited plans by the Obama administration to promote family involvement in schools, including a doubling from 1% to 2% of Title I dollars to promote familiy involvement, and a proposal to require "family involvement" measures to be a factor in principal and teacher evaluations. He further noted that other proposals include grants to states to be used for evidence-based programs that are proven to increase family involvement, as well as requiring the local parent information and resource centers to compete for grants against non-profit organizations.

Robert Manuel, PhD, Dean of Continuing Studies at Georgetown University, opened up the floor for questions. One of the "Mom Delegates" challenged Duncan with the statement that parents and school youth are the only consumers who don't have decisionmaking power. How can we hold schools accountable for the money? Where are the checks and blances? Duncan responded that he shares the sense of urgency, and that educators have to be accountable, yes, but parents have to step up, too.

One education activist from Baltimore shared her frustration with "the system." She told Duncan that in her school, when a parent speaks up, they are blackballed, excluded from decisionmaking. Duncan responded by saying that in education, we need to build a different culture. Money won't solve the problems alone, he affirmed. Unfortunately, Duncan's address confirmed what he himself stated: "there is no easy answer."

Susan Kane, Editor-in-Chief of Parenting Magazine, concluded the town hall by thanking those in attendance. For more information on Parenting's Mom Congress on Education and Learning, visit www.parenting.com/momcongress

Watch the Town Hall meeting HERE.