Public schools are called "public" schools because they work for – you guessed it – the public. That’s us. We're in charge.
All public schools are funded through taxes in some form or another. There are federal and state property taxes and sometimes even local city taxes. So if you have kids in school or if you own a home/property near a school, congratulations, you're automatically invested in how they perform.
If you're among the roughly half of Americans that are unhappy with your K-12 schools, then you'll want to read (and share) this article.
5 Ways to Keep Your Schools in Check
- 📚 Join the PTO: First of all, schools work much like any other organization. You don't walk in and demand time from the CEO or the board of directors on your first time out – you have to work them a little. Start where your kids are or what's local to you. Joining your school's Parent Teacher Organization (or whatever they call it at your school) is a great way to get involved and see what's going on at the ground level.
- 🧑🏫 Get to Know the Staff: Meet the people who run the schools from the bottom up. Meet the teachers and the support staff, and the custodian. Pro-Tip: This would be incredibly creepy if you don't have kids. So if you're childless, please skip this part and attend a public event (many schools host yearly open houses) to meet people. Just leave the creeper van without the windows at home. No one wants your candy.
- 👩🏫 Go to a Board Meeting: Now that you know the local players and probably have a feel for the "hot button issues" at your local school, level up by attending a board of education meeting. Hear what's happening at the district level, including curriculum updates or changes, policy votes, proposals, grant awards, and more. Board meetings are usually monthly - check your local district’s website for a calendar of upcoming meetings.
- 💭📣 Speak Up: If something needs fixing and you've already gone through the appropriate chain of command, see if your district offers the public a chance to speak through comments at the board meetings. Then pony up to the mic and get ready to drop bombs. If all that ain't for you, schedule a one-on-one with the Superintendent or try emailing the board.
- 🏃♂️ Run or Vote: Now that you understand how your local schools work and how easy it is to get involved, the final step is to run for the board of education yourself. Can't? Then identify the candidates who support the same causes as you, then make a plan to vote. 5(a):🏅 Finish Strong: Earn extra credit by researching state and national congressional candidates on your ballot who support the same education goals as you and vote for them in the midterms, too.
💥 The bottom line is public schools need to work for everyone. If they’re not working for you, then you have a voice as a parent and/or as a taxpayer to say so. Get involved and understand what’s going on at your local schools to see if you’re getting enough bang for your buck. 💥
Guess what? The President doesn't have much to do with schools...but your local & state government reps do! Here’s three small things you can do that make a BIG impact:
