Want to Boost Participation in Parent-Teacher Conferences? Here’s How.

100% participation in parent-teacher conferences.

Not just in one classroom, but in an entire elementary school.

Yes, you read that right. We were pleasantly surprised when a CTO at one Skyward district reported that statistic to us. We wondered what the catch was—rewards, prizes, drawings?

Nope, nothing quite so fancy. You see, all his district did was ditch miniature desks and marathon evenings for virtual discussions in the comfort of each family’s home.

Can you imagine if every school achieved 100% participation at conferences? Making the switch to virtual conferences has the potential for incalculable impact on parent engagement. Here’s why we expect virtual conferences to stick around, and some tools to help your district get started.
 

Benefits of Virtual Conferences

1. Teachers and families can meet without the commute. They’ll never know you’re wearing slippers and sweats.
2. No childcare is needed. Meet after kids' bedtime! Bring the baby! Send the kids to grandma’s! Order pizza! Anything goes.
3. Parents can join from work. For parents working outside the home, one less place to be is cause for celebration.
4. Masks aren’t necessary. The virtual setting eliminates transmission of germs and allows for open communication, lip reading, and reading expressions or nonverbal cues. For family members with auditory processing or hearing challenges, this can make a huge difference.
5. Students don't have to stay. Grown-ups can send kids off to play Fortnite or get in some extra studying. (You know which they’ll choose...)
6. No tiny chairs! Imagine conferences on the couch. (Go ahead and steal it.)
7. Recordkeeping is easier. Keep notes or capture a screen recording of important information to follow up with later.
8. Connections are secure. Virtual meeting spaces offer encryption, password protection, and other safety mechanisms.
9. Schools stay safe. No need to invite new people into secure buildings to look around and learn the nooks and crannies.

Skyward Tools to Make It Easier

Expectations to Set in Advance

1. Scheduling: Surveys, conversations, and culture all play a role in determining scheduling. If teachers are okay with offering later sessions or using prep time, those decisions can create flexibility the way in-person conferences never could.
2. Security: Teachers should not video chat on personal devices and should never feel pressured to give out personal contact information. Encourage blurred backgrounds or make a custom, branded virtual background available for teachers who elect to offer conferences from their home office.
3. Behavior: Set boundaries for all parties involved. This is a brand-new world for families and staff alike, so you’ll inevitably learn as you go. Just like with virtual class, be prepared for anything. If boundaries are crossed, the conference ends immediately.

Follow-Up Resource: Why Parent Engagement Matters So Much (And What to Do About It)