Authored by Amanda Ensor
Families want to support their child’s learning. But they can only do that when they understand how their child is doing in school. For many parents and caregivers, that picture isn’t always clear.
A study released by Gallup and Learning Heroes shows that most parents believe their child is performing at or above grade level. At the same time, national assessments tell a different story about how students are progressing academically. This disconnect isn’t about families being disengaged, it’s often about access to clear, timely information about learning.
When schools share progress updates that are easy to understand and consistent throughout the year, families gain the insight they need to support their child’s success. And that’s where accessible, purposeful, and transparent communication makes all the difference.
Why Transparency Builds Stronger Partnerships
Research consistently shows that families want honest, clear information about their child’s progress; even when the news is challenging. When parents understand how their child is doing academically, they are far more likely to take action: reaching out to teachers, asking questions, and finding ways to support learning at home. Transparency builds trust. It also shifts the conversation from “How is my child doing?” to “How can we support them together?” But for that partnership to work, progress updates need to go beyond report cards or occasional conferences. Families benefit most when updates are regular, clear, and connected to learning goals.
Learn how clearer, well-timed updates drive stronger family engagement — Read the case study
Making Progress Updates Family-Friendly
Educators already track a wealth of data about student learning. The challenge isn’t collecting information, it’s making sure families can easily understand it.
Family-friendly progress updates focus on three simple ideas:
- Clarity: Avoid academic jargon and explain what skills students are learning or practicing.
- Consistency: Frequent updates help families stay informed about growth over time, not just at the end of a grading period.
- Actionable insights: Share ideas or strategies families can use to support learning at home.
Small moments of communication, like sharing a reading milestone, highlighting growth in math, or celebrating improvement, can make a big difference in helping families stay connected to their child’s progress.
Supporting Progress Updates with TalkingPoints
For many educators, time is one of the biggest barriers to consistent communication with families. That’s why having the right tools matters. TalkingPoints makes it easier for teachers to keep families informed about student learning throughout the year.
With TalkingPoints, educators can:
- Share quick updates about student progress, classroom learning, or upcoming goals
- Send messages in families’ home languages with automatic translations in 150+ languages
- Build two-way communication (with translations available in both directions) so families can ask questions and stay engaged
- Reach families regularly without adding extra complexity to teachers’ day
Instead of waiting for formal reporting periods, teachers can provide ongoing insight into how students are growing and learning. And those small, consistent updates help families feel more connected and confident in supporting their child.
Strengthen literacy and math outcomes through family partnerships — Explore Academics At Home
Turning Progress Updates Into Partnership
When families understand how their child is progressing academically, they become powerful partners in the learning process. Clear communication helps families celebrate progress and milestones and identify areas where extra support may help. They are also more likely to stay aligned with teachers on learning goals and feel more confident supporting learning at home. Progress updates aren’t just about sharing data. They’re about building shared understandingand trust between schools and families. When schools make student progress visible and accessible, everyone works together toward the same goal: helping every student succeed.
Celebrating 10 years of partnership and impact
For a decade, TalkingPoints has supported students, families, and educators through the power of effective family-school partnerships. As an education technology nonprofit, our award-winning communication and family engagement platform has improved outcomes for districts and students nationwide.
We connect 9 million+ educators, students, and family members annually and have facilitated more than one billion conversations, building trust, fostering relationships, and fueling student success. Named by Common Sense Education as “the best overall family communication platform for teachers and schools,” TalkingPoints drives measurable gains in attendance and academic achievement, backed by rigorous, causal research.
Join us in building a future where every child has the support they need to thrive.
