K-12 Public Education Insights: Empowering Parents of Color — Trends, Tactics, and Topics That Impact POC

Kim J. Fields
  • 5.0 (2)
  • EDUCATION
  • UPDATED BIMONTHLY

Raising kids can be tough! I know because I’ve been a single mom who raised two kids on my own. And when they get in the K-12 public education system, learning the ins and outs of that system can get you all tangled up, especially when you’re a parent of color (POC). You need to be aware of the current trends, tactics, and topics, as well as the necessary resources to navigate within the system. That’s what the K-12 Public Education Insights: Empowering Parents of Color podcast is all about — providing you with tools, information, and practical actions to help you and your children succeed within the complexities of K-12 public education.

  1. 21H AGO

    Episode 176: Why Schools Undervalue Writing And How Parents Can Help

    "Send me a Text Message!" Writing is the most overlooked literacy tool in K-12 education, and it might be the fastest way to help your child become a stronger reader. In this episode, I’m unpacking why writing instruction matters so much, especially for families navigating public school systems where priorities often follow testing and time constraints. If your child can read the words but struggles to explain what they mean, writing may be the bridge that finally makes comprehension click. I dig into the research behind the reciprocal relationship between reading and writing. Writing forces kids to slow down, think critically, and make meaning through predictions, inferences, and conclusions. It also reinforces the core components of literacy development, such as phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and reading comprehension, while helping students turn oral language into clear written communication. Writing is not just for English class; it belongs in science, social studies, and math because every subject requires students to organize ideas and convey information. I also discuss why so many students enjoy writing less over time and why daily writing habits are fading, and then explore practical ways to rebuild motivation. You’ll hear how song lyrics can become a surprisingly effective gateway into reading and writing, plus simple at-home strategies like setting up a small writing center with inviting supplies, giving your child a personal journal, creating projects tied to their lived experiences, and displaying their work to grow confidence. Subscribe for weekly K-12 public education insights, share this with a parent who needs it, and leave a review so more families can find the show. What’s one small writing habit you can start at home this week? Love my show? Consider being a regular subscriber! Just go to https://tinyurl.com/podcastsupport.  Support the show  Thanks for listening! For more information about the show, episodes, and ways to support, check out these websites: https://k12educationinsights.buzzsprout.com or https: //www.liberationthrougheducation.com/podcast Subscribe on Buzzsprout to receive a shout out on an upcoming episodeYou can also support me with ratings, kind words of encouragement, and by sharing this podcast with friends and familyContact me with any specific questions you have at:  kim@liberationthrougheducation.com

    20 min

  2. APR 28

    Episode 175: The Success Sequence's Teaching of Family Values In Schools

    "Send me a Text Message!" Some lawmakers want a “success sequence” taught in schools: finish high school, work full-time, get married, then have children. That sounds like simple advice until you ask the real question: Is K-12 public education helping students build responsible decision-making skills, or is it turning one set of family values into a curriculum mandate? I walk through how politics and education collide around social-emotional learning, character education, sex education, and family formation. I trace the roots of the success sequence and why it’s showing up in state bills and good citizenship standards, then I get honest about what the research can and cannot claim.  Poverty is not just a personal choice problem, and teaching a narrow model can stigmatize students from single-parent homes or families that don’t fit a traditional mold. At the same time, data on Millennials suggest real associations among education, work, marriage timing, and financial well-being, which is why this topic deserves nuance rather than slogans. Then I bring it back to what you can control. I share practical action steps to strengthen family-school partnership: build relationships with educators, ask direct questions about curriculum goals, advocate for inclusive engagement, share your culture, keep reading at home, connect classroom learning to family life, and stay on top of assignments.  Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review with your take: should schools teach the success sequence, and if so, how? Love my show? Consider being a regular subscriber! Just go to https://tinyurl.com/podcastsupport.  Support the show  Thanks for listening! For more information about the show, episodes, and ways to support, check out these websites: https://k12educationinsights.buzzsprout.com or https: //www.liberationthrougheducation.com/podcast Subscribe on Buzzsprout to receive a shout out on an upcoming episodeYou can also support me with ratings, kind words of encouragement, and by sharing this podcast with friends and familyContact me with any specific questions you have at:  kim@liberationthrougheducation.com

    35 min

  3. APR 21

    Episode 174: When School Tech Tools Multiply But Learning Does Not

    "Send me a Text Message!" Schools have never had more educational technology, and yet many parents are still asking the same question at the kitchen table: Is all this screen time actually helping my child learn? I dig into what’s driving the growing pushback against edtech in K-12 public education and why “more tools” can lead to more confusion when schools can’t point to clear learning outcomes. I walk through how school districts are changing their approach from buying the newest digital platforms to running a more skeptical evaluation process. That includes tracking actual usage, reducing redundancy, checking costs, and insisting on stronger alignment with instructional goals. I also talk about the less visible pieces that matter just as much: student data privacy, app integration with learning management systems, and whether the technology supports real personalization instead of replacing human connection in learning. I also focus on the impact for students of color and how over-reliance on edtech can widen the digital divide when digital literacy and self-regulation supports are uneven. I touch on national concerns raised about screens, mental health, AI in schools, and why some states are proposing limits on screen-based instruction, especially for younger grades. You’ll leave with practical parent advocacy steps you can use right away, including what to ask your principal and how to set guardrails at home. Subscribe for weekly K-12 Public Education Insights, share this with a parent who needs it, and leave a review so more families can find the show. After you listen, what tech tools are your child required to use every day, and do you think it’s too much? Love my show? Consider being a regular subscriber! Just go to https://tinyurl.com/podcastsupport.  Support the show  Thanks for listening! For more information about the show, episodes, and ways to support, check out these websites: https://k12educationinsights.buzzsprout.com or https: //www.liberationthrougheducation.com/podcast Subscribe on Buzzsprout to receive a shout out on an upcoming episodeYou can also support me with ratings, kind words of encouragement, and by sharing this podcast with friends and familyContact me with any specific questions you have at:  kim@liberationthrougheducation.com

    20 min

  4. APR 14

    Episode 173: Screens Are Replacing The Skills Kids Need For School

    "Send me a Text Message!" Your child can be bright, curious, and loved deeply at home and still walk into kindergarten missing the skills that make school work. That’s the gap I tackle today, because early educators are sounding the alarm: more students are arriving at pre-K and kindergarten dependent on adults for basics, struggling to follow directions, and melting down when they hear “no.” When that happens, teachers are forced to pause academics and shift back to school readiness, and kids start forming an early belief about whether they “like school” or “are good at school.” I connect educational research to real classroom realities, including what the latest reports say about screen time and device ownership, and why tablets and phones have become the go-to pacifier for far too many families. I unpack how heavy screen use can shrink attention span, reduce interest in books, and limit the hands-on play that builds fine motor skills, gross motor skills, and independence. I also talk about social-emotional learning in plain language: turn-taking, coping skills, patience, and appropriate play are not “nice to have” skills. They’re core to learning. Then I get practical. I share simple, doable action steps to build kindergarten readiness at home through conversation, reading, puzzles, blocks, coloring, cutting, movement, and routines that teach independence. I also explain what to look for when you observe preschool, pre-K, or kindergarten classrooms so you can reinforce the same expectations at home.  If this helped you, subscribe, share with another parent, and leave a review so more families can find these K-12 public education insights. Love my show? Consider being a regular subscriber! Just go to https://tinyurl.com/podcastsupport.  Support the show  Thanks for listening! For more information about the show, episodes, and ways to support, check out these websites: https://k12educationinsights.buzzsprout.com or https: //www.liberationthrougheducation.com/podcast Subscribe on Buzzsprout to receive a shout out on an upcoming episodeYou can also support me with ratings, kind words of encouragement, and by sharing this podcast with friends and familyContact me with any specific questions you have at:  kim@liberationthrougheducation.com

    28 min

  5. APR 7

    Episode 172: Gentle Parenting Meets Shoelaces And Loses

    "Send me a Text Message!" Kids used to learn toilet training and shoe tying like a normal rite of passage. Now, early childhood educators are saying something has shifted, and it is showing up in classrooms as weaker fine motor skills, gross motor skills, self-regulation, and trouble following simple instructions. If you are a parent trying to make sense of what is happening in K-12 public education and how it connects to what happens at home, this conversation is for you. I walk through what a recent Education Week Research Center survey reported from pre-K to 3rd-grade educators, including eye-opening numbers on shoe tying, directions, and the belief that increased screen time and parenting trends are contributing to developmental delays in age-appropriate skills. I also connect those observations to research published in JAMA on developmental milestone changes in children ages 0 to 5 and on why ongoing monitoring matters when long-term outcomes remain uncertain. Then I get practical by breaking down the four main parenting styles: authoritative, authoritarian, permissive (gentle), and neglectful. I explain how each approach can shape independence, emotional regulation, resilience, and the everyday life skills that help children thrive once academic demands ramp up. You will leave with clear action steps to strengthen foundational skills at home, set boundaries with warmth, and stop measuring your worth as a parent by perfect outcomes. After you listen, share this with a friend and leave a quick review so more families can find it, then send me your thoughts on the episode page at K12EducationInsights.buzzsprout.com. What changes are you seeing in your child or in your community? Love my show? Consider being a regular subscriber! Just go to https://tinyurl.com/podcastsupport.  Support the show  Thanks for listening! For more information about the show, episodes, and ways to support, check out these websites: https://k12educationinsights.buzzsprout.com or https: //www.liberationthrougheducation.com/podcast Subscribe on Buzzsprout to receive a shout out on an upcoming episodeYou can also support me with ratings, kind words of encouragement, and by sharing this podcast with friends and familyContact me with any specific questions you have at:  kim@liberationthrougheducation.com

    28 min

  6. MAR 24

    Episode 171: When Classroom Behavior Breaks Down, Parents Are Blamed

    "Send me a Text Message!" Classroom disruption isn’t a punchline anymore. Teachers across the country are reporting more disrespect, more disengagement, and, in some cases, behavior that becomes unsafe, and families are being pulled into a tense question: Who is responsible for fixing it when student discipline breaks down? I dig into what the research and recent national data say about declining student behavior in K-12 public education, including how pandemic-era habits and academic gaps can show up as acting out. I also talk about the discipline pendulum swing from zero-tolerance policies to restorative discipline practices, why many educators feel consequences have weakened, and what “restorative” is supposed to look like when it’s done well. You’ll hear why school administrators matter so much in these moments, what teachers need in training and support, and how parent-school relationships can either reinforce expectations or derail them. Then I zoom in on what surprised me most: disruptive behavior can start shockingly early. Pre-K expulsions are occurring at higher rates than in K-12, with serious equity concerns, and we unpack research linking long hours in childcare to later aggression while challenging the idea that a single factor explains everything. I also share a promising approach that uses sibling relationships to build empathy, self-control, and stronger behavior at school. If you’re a parent trying to read the subtle signs your child is struggling, I  close with clear action steps: get involved early, watch for body-language clues, ask better questions, advocate when needed, and don’t defend behavior you know is wrong.  Subscribe for weekly K-12 education insights, share this with another parent, and leave a review with the biggest discipline challenge you’re seeing right now. Love my show? Consider being a regular subscriber! Just go to https://tinyurl.com/podcastsupport.  Support the show  Thanks for listening! For more information about the show, episodes, and ways to support, check out these websites: https://k12educationinsights.buzzsprout.com or https: //www.liberationthrougheducation.com/podcast Subscribe on Buzzsprout to receive a shout out on an upcoming episodeYou can also support me with ratings, kind words of encouragement, and by sharing this podcast with friends and familyContact me with any specific questions you have at:  kim@liberationthrougheducation.com

    31 min

  7. MAR 17

    Episode 170: When States Cut Remediation Classes, Who Pays The Price?

    "Send me a Text Message!" I break down why states are restricting remedial math and English courses in college and what that means for students who still need a bridge to credit-bearing coursework. I weigh the money and completion-rate arguments against what families care about most: real skill-building, fair placement, and a genuine pathway to a degree. • Why California limits remediation through AB 1705 and expands tutoring support • The unanswered questions behind tutoring metrics and “faster completion” claims • How transition courses in high school try to close college readiness gaps • What Tennessee’s results suggest about credits earned versus math knowledge gained • Why remedial education costs students money without earning college credit • How placement tests misidentify students and how transcript-based placement can help • The disproportionate impact of remediation decisions on students of color • Examples that work better, including dual enrollment partnerships and early remediation • My recommendations: keep remediation available, improve placement criteria, start support by middle school, strengthen tutoring partnerships Did you enjoy this episode? Then be sure to subscribe to my podcast on whatever service you're listening to this. Thanks for listening today. Be sure to come back for more insights on K-12 educational topics that impact you and your children. And remember to share my podcast with anyone you think would find it valuable. That includes your friends, family, and your community. Love my show? Consider being a regular subscriber! Just go to https://tinyurl.com/podcastsupport.  Support the show  Thanks for listening! For more information about the show, episodes, and ways to support, check out these websites: https://k12educationinsights.buzzsprout.com or https: //www.liberationthrougheducation.com/podcast Subscribe on Buzzsprout to receive a shout out on an upcoming episodeYou can also support me with ratings, kind words of encouragement, and by sharing this podcast with friends and familyContact me with any specific questions you have at:  kim@liberationthrougheducation.com

    31 min

  8. MAR 10

    Episode 169: Why Financial Literacy Must Start Before High School

    "Send me a Text Message!" Money decisions shape futures long before a first paycheck arrives. I take you inside the fast‑growing world of in‑school banking, new district pilots, and the real question parents ask: Does access to accounts actually build financial literacy, or just familiarity with banks? Drawing on current research and on‑the‑ground examples from New York City and beyond, I unpack what these programs change—higher account ownership, better attitudes, more family money talks—and where they fall short without strong instruction. I explore what a high‑quality personal finance course must include to matter in a digital economy: banking fundamentals, credit and debt, taxes and paychecks, investing basics, paying for college, insurance, consumer protection, and fraud awareness. Then I zoom out to timing and method. Starting in elementary school pays dividends when math, civics, and social science weave together to cover budgeting, percentages, needs vs. wants, and everyday trade-offs. By high school, students should run real scenarios—reading account terms, comparing fees, and practicing opportunity cost—so they can make clear choices under pressure. You’ll also hear about a bold pilot that gave students $50 a week on debit cards. Attendance improved, and financial awareness rose at first, even without formal lessons—a sign that real money sparks real learning. Still, results were mixed, reinforcing a simple truth: access accelerates understanding when paired with guidance and safeguards. I close with practical steps for families—co‑research credible sources, build a shared money notebook, use strategy games to rehearse choices, and set weekly budget check‑ins—to turn curiosity into confidence. If this conversation helps you think differently about how kids learn about money, tap Follow, share it with a parent or educator who cares, and leave a quick review telling me the first money habit you’d teach your child. Love my show? Consider being a regular subscriber! Just go to https://tinyurl.com/podcastsupport.  Support the show  Thanks for listening! For more information about the show, episodes, and ways to support, check out these websites: https://k12educationinsights.buzzsprout.com or https: //www.liberationthrougheducation.com/podcast Subscribe on Buzzsprout to receive a shout out on an upcoming episodeYou can also support me with ratings, kind words of encouragement, and by sharing this podcast with friends and familyContact me with any specific questions you have at:  kim@liberationthrougheducation.com

    33 min
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About

Raising kids can be tough! I know because I’ve been a single mom who raised two kids on my own. And when they get in the K-12 public education system, learning the ins and outs of that system can get you all tangled up, especially when you’re a parent of color (POC). You need to be aware of the current trends, tactics, and topics, as well as the necessary resources to navigate within the system. That’s what the K-12 Public Education Insights: Empowering Parents of Color podcast is all about — providing you with tools, information, and practical actions to help you and your children succeed within the complexities of K-12 public education.

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