7 Ways School Leaders Can Refresh Communication This January

Although January falls in the middle of the school year, the start of a new year is also a chance for a quick but mindful reset. Teachers are settling back in, and families are finding their rhythm again. Leaders and teachers can take a pause to reflect on the previous year’s school communication and identify what worked and what didn’t. A short communication check-in now can make the rest of the semester feel noticeably calmer.

Look into school-wide communication from the leadership. Were families missing dates? Asking the same questions? Struggling to find information? Those moments usually point to places where communication could be more transparent or better timed.

Maybe the school needs a frequently asked questions section on the school website? Is the school calendar always updated? Do parents have a reliable way to contact administrators and leadership? Is everyone using the school communication platform? If not, why?

If your school already has a communication plan in place, you are doing great! Communication plans should be living documents that can be adjusted as needed and based on feedback. Don’t hesitate to adjust the plan: clarify where information is stored, or provide more detail on who is responsible for sending which types of communications. A stronger plan is the base for better communication.

Does your school have a family engagement team or committee? How is their work going? Meet with team representatives to get an update and identify ways to support them. Are ideas moving forward, or still waiting for clarity? January is a good time to align timelines and provide families with an update on the team’s work and efforts.
Learn more about Useful Family Engagement Assessment Tools.

When was the last time your school systematically surveyed families or engaged in focus group discussions? If recent feedback is available, now it is time to recommit to the results and effect change. What questions keep coming up? What seems to get families excited or engaged? Consider feedback an opportunity to co-create a positive school culture with families. Posing questions like, ‘How might families help us celebrate successes?’ invites shared ownership and deepens engagement. Communication plays a bigger role here than we often realize.
Use School Signals Online Form System to Collect Feedback.

Families experience school as one connected ecosystem. Check with the PTA/PTO leadership on how they are doing. How can the leadership support the parent organization? Together, align PTA events, fundraisers, and community partnerships to achieve higher participation from families.
Provide PTA/PTO their dedicated space in School Signals.

As Dr. Karen L. Mapp reminds, families appreciate updates on curriculum and want to know what their children are learning to be able to support them. Look ahead to the next interim or grading period. Are curriculum overviews ready? Are parent event dates set? Do families have a clear picture of what’s coming in the weeks ahead? Does the school communication plan specifically mention updates on student learning and progress?