Interview: Brown University’s Jonathan Collins on Why Getting Family Input into Spending $122B American Rescue Plan Key to Reopening Schools This Fall
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U.S. schools are set to receive a staggering $122 billion as part of the American Rescue Plan. However, along with this financial assistance comes a significant responsibility: determining how to allocate and utilize these funds.
Jonathan Collins, an assistant professor of education at Brown University, emphasizes the importance of involving students, parents, and community stakeholders in the decision-making process for pandemic recovery and long-term strategies.
Despite the fact that a majority of schools now offer some form of in-person learning, many families have opted to continue remote education for their children. Concerns about COVID-19 safety have been partially replaced by more fundamental issues, such as avoiding experiences of racism in schools or adjusting schedules to accommodate student jobs. This has resulted in widespread "school hesitancy," prompting experts to raise alarms.
Collins, speaking with , highlights the significance of actively engaging with parents and rebuilding their confidence in sending their children back to physical classrooms in the upcoming fall semester. He emphasizes the need for meaningful dialogues and conversations during the summer to ensure buy-in from families.
As a specialized researcher in "deliberative democracy" within schools, Collins underlines the obligation of public institutions to involve the families they serve. He suggests that this summer presents a unique opportunity to intensify these efforts.
Collins states, "Given the current focus on schools and reopening, parents and students will readily engage in discussions. The key is to create platforms for these conversations to occur."
Washington, D.C. provides an early example of soliciting public input through a survey to determine how to allocate American Rescue Plan funds.
interviewed Collins, where he shared insights on how school leaders can involve community members in collaborative decision-making processes for utilizing the incoming federal funding. The interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.
: One of your areas of expertise is evaluating the level of "democracy" within schools and districts. What does that mean exactly, and how does it contribute to schools’ democratic nature?
Collins: Various dimensions can help assess the level of democracy within educational institutions. One common approach entails examining their election processes. Do they conduct school board elections? Do the voter demographics in these elections accurately represent the wider district?
Additionally, I advocate for considering whether district leaders adopt democratic practices. Are they actively seeking input from community members, parents, and students to identify and address problems? Are they aiming for collaborative governance? Or do they primarily engage in administrative tasks, assuming that expertise resides only among those with prestigious titles?
Genuine democratic governance actively incorporates the perspectives of individuals who experience the daily realities within school settings, thereby enhancing our ability to solve complex and nuanced problems.
With the influx of $122 billion from the American Rescue Plan, schools must ensure that they engage their communities in making spending decisions. This substantial funding requires substantive dialogue. Education policy experts rightly caution us to be cautious in our expenditure to avoid a potential fiscal cliff. These funds are temporary rather than permanent, underscoring the need for effective utilization.
Given these circumstances, it is crucial for districts to initiate conversations with their respective communities. We have two options: align spending with expert recommendations or respond to the voices of parents, students, and community stakeholders. Personally, I believe the latter option holds greater promise.
In an effort to regain trust, the Department of Education is reaching out to parents. If school leaders are seeking advice on how to involve community members in the decision-making process, a multi-tiered approach is recommended. Starting with active and engaged parents and stakeholders who can help attract new participants is essential. It’s important to recognize that parents and students are eager to discuss the current situation with schools and reopening, so creating opportunities for these conversations is crucial. The key is to ensure that these conversations are genuine and authentic.
Practical steps that school leaders can take include hosting community forums and roundtables, as well as virtual meetings that encourage feedback and deliberation. Research has shown that parents are receptive to attending virtual meetings and being actively involved. Allocating funds from the American Rescue Plan for communication and dialogue can also facilitate convenient and accessible forums for parents. Despite the additional work for districts, the outcome is worth it.
Notably, parents, especially those of color, prefer a public decision-making process for reopening decisions rather than relying solely on district leaders and bureaucrats. Building trust and securing support from families is critical for a successful return to school, including adherence to safety measures such as mask-wearing. Gathering ideas and input from parents, students, and stakeholders is essential to address the unique challenges of the upcoming academic year.
As COVID-related safety requirements ease in most states during the summer, it is crucial to ensure that everyone understands the benefits of maintaining a safe school environment if measures need to be reintroduced in the fall. Dialogue and communication are key to achieving this.
For parents to support the return to school in the fall, they need to be involved in the decision-making process regarding the allocation of pandemic recovery funds for schools. Engaging in important and substantive dialogues during the summer will foster buy-in from parents.
Regarding pandemic-era school changes, maintaining frequent communication between teachers and parents is a valuable practice that should continue. Additionally, prioritizing cleanliness in schools has proven beneficial and should be upheld. The innovative aspects of virtual learning should be acknowledged, as teachers have found creative ways to use online resources and communication to keep students engaged and connected to the school.
In addition to holding meetings and forums, it is important to collaborate with civic groups that have played a significant role throughout the year. Exploring emerging technologies that facilitate community engagement is also crucial, as online platforms remain essential. Creativity will be necessary to effectively involve parents who may not be accustomed to online engagement.
The transformation does not occur instantaneously. It requires ongoing dedication: establishing connections, nurturing connections, engaging in meaningful discussions, fostering dialogues and forums that yield actual outcomes. However, it is essential to initiate the process of enlightening parents about their entitlement to be involved in these processes and decision-making, emphasizing that their participation is desired and appreciated. By doing so, the school district’s decisions and outcomes will undoubtedly improve with the presence of parents.
