Parents, news, & the 2024 elections

During this all-important election year, parents want coverage that reflects their real interests and gives them a real voice.

By Keri Rodrigues, co-founder and president of the National Parents Union

The latest in our 2024 series on parent-centered education news.

As parent leaders who have spent decades watching election dramas unfold, we know the power reporters wield when it comes to shaping narratives. Amid this critical moment for our democracy, the onus is on the media, specifically education reporters to look more deeply at parents’ real concerns as Democrats and Republicans vie for the parent vote and as parents rely on accurate information to make informed decisions at the polling booth and in our daily lives.

The current narrative must shift from sensationalism to true substance. We’re counting on education reporters to parse through the complexity and details of how policies will play out in the real world without falling victim to the sensationalist rhetoric of campaign speeches and debate stages.

We want the hard questions asked and answered. And we demand that 2024 election coverage be a testament to the power of informed journalism and its ability to foster a more engaged, informed, and inclusive electorate.

As the 2024 election draws near, reporting on issues that impact families must take into account the intersectionality of issues that matter to parents and consider the economic pressures families face. Reporters owe it to families to push candidates on key topics such as literacy, school safety, the youth mental health crisis, and college and career pathways that get our children to economic mobility.

Our issues are intersectional

We know what you’ve heard – parents are angry and frustrated.

But what are we truly frustrated about?

The National Parents Union has spent the last several years quantifying the true priorities of America’s families, and we can say unequivocally that economic issues are paramount.

Times are tough, and parents are walking an economic tightrope every single day. To make matters worse, hungry kids can’t learn. Families who are struggling to make ends meet are likely overwhelmed by simply trying to survive. Understanding this grim reality affecting thousands of families is vital context for education reporters who might otherwise think parents are far removed from key issues.

In fact, from skyrocketing childcare costs to the balancing act of managing a household budget amid soul-crushing inflation, outlets like The Atlantic have offered authentic coverage of the parent experience in recent years.

Annie Lowery’s piece on the child tax credit does a great job of highlighting the fact that there has been “no ado about so, so much” when it comes to this pivotal topic. And 2024 should see an uptick of these stories.

Parents need education reporters to dissect the plans being presented on childcare subsidies, tax credits for families, and job security. The National Parents Union is proud to support the bipartisan tax package introduced by Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Rep. Jason Smith, R-Mo., that expands the child tax credit for working families.

Our national polling shows parents want concrete pro-family policies like expanding the Child Tax Credit to reverse the uptick of child poverty in recent years and help ease the financial burden of families. To ensure more than just lip service to these issues, reporters should press policymakers for specifics on these issues.

Education reporters would also do well to remember that parents and families may see education differently from other stakeholders. For many of us, the end goal isn’t just a piece of paper on the graduation stage; it’s a longer journey that includes unlocking economic mobility and opportunity. This hope may be particularly acute for parents who were robbed of this opportunity and have higher hopes for our own children.

Let’s also not forget, parents are deeply concerned about the world we are leaving for our children. Issues such as climate change, access to career pathways, AI, and digital privacy are not just buzzwords; they are realities that will shape the future our children will inherit.

Thoughtful reporting can help parents understand how candidates will address these issues to ensure a more equitable world for our children.

Literacy: The non-negotiable right

In an age where information is king, ensuring our kids can read and comprehend effectively is not just important — it’s fundamental. Yet in 2024, too many of our children are failing to reach literacy proficiency.

Reading is the gateway to learning, to understanding our world, and to participating fully in society and economic mobility. Unfortunately, as parents, we find ourselves having to advocate fiercely for states and districts to adopt research-backed literacy programs, for teachers who are properly trained to deliver it, and for resources that meet the diverse needs of our students and remediate those who have been failed.

We’re counting on journalists to delve into why, despite decades of discussion and scientific advancements, a significant portion of our kids still struggle with basic reading. This isn’t just an educational issue — it’s a societal one with long-term consequences. Many of the parents of today are the underserved children of the previous generation, yet now we are expected to be fully trained literacy coaches, utilizing 20 minutes of nightly reading to overcome six hours of failed literacy instruction in our nation’s classrooms during the day.

Let’s hear what our candidates have in store to turn this ship around, and let’s demand more than a passing mention from them. This issue will require in-depth analysis of policies and practices that can turn the tide.

We spend more time talking about banning books than our children’s ability to read books. We turn a blind eye to the fact that  lower literacy proficiency rates increase the likelihood of incarceration, given that poverty, lack of education, and dismal job prospects play a significant role in prison vulnerability.

Both sides of the political spectrum should be made to answer serious questions and be held accountable for allowing this to happen.

Safe and inclusive classrooms, beyond physical safety

When we talk about creating safe classrooms for our children, we’re not just referring to physical safety, though ensuring they can make it through the school day without becoming a victim of gun violence is still an issue we have yet to solve. Nowadays we’re also talking about psychological and emotional safety — environments where children can explore, express, and celebrate who they are without being forced to navigate a political battleground.

While we can see our children struggling with an obvious youth mental health crisis, we at the National Parents Union are deeply concerned about creating nurturing spaces where differences in race, religion, gender, and culture are not just acknowledged but embraced. Media coverage should probe deeper into how candidates propose to create such inclusive educational environments and ensure that our schools are sanctuaries of learning and growth instead of battlegrounds of ideological conflicts.

We urge you to maintain a critical eye and not shy away from fact-checking and challenging dubious claims. In an era of misinformation, the role of the media as a purveyor of truth is more critical than ever.

If someone is showing up at a school board meeting saying they represent parents, it might be a good idea to find out whether they even have a child in the school district — or are merely showing up as a part of a political campaign. And as we face the impending fiscal cliff coming with the end of ESSER funds in September, the real voices of parents and families will need to be heard without distraction.

Reflecting the real parental tapestry

The diversity of the modern landscape of American families is vast and varied. It’s time for media coverage to reflect this diversity in all its forms. We’re not just suburban moms or urban dads; we’re a rich tapestry of cultures, backgrounds, and experiences. The issues that concern a single mother in a rural area may differ from those of a two-parent household in the city, but they are equally important. We need all of you to endeavor to represent this mosaic of parental voices, offering insights into the unique challenges and perspectives of different communities. Our children are not the future, but the now.

In this election, the stakes are high, and the role of the media is critical. We urge you to approach your coverage with a sense of responsibility and a commitment to truth. Remember, the way you portray these issues will not only inform our choices at the polls but will also shape the discourse around the dinner table, in school board meetings, and in community gatherings across the country.

In the end, it’s not just about who wins the election; it’s about building a future where our children can thrive, learn, and grow in a world that respects and values them. And for that, we need media coverage that is as diverse, vibrant, and dynamic as the families it seeks to represent.

Keri Rodrigues is Matthew, Miles, and David’s mom and the president of the National Parents Union, the united, independent voice of modern American families bringing together nearly 1,500 affiliated parent organizations in all 50 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico. You can follow her at @radiokeri.

Previously from The Grade in our 2024 parent series:

Finding real parents — on deadline (Andrew Bauld)
Schools coverage should serve parents’ needs, says journalism researcher (featuring Jesse Holcomb)
Parents need reporters — and vice versa (by Parent Shield Fort Worth’s Trenace Dorsey-Hollins)
What parents really want (featuring Vernee Wilkerson)