I recently spoke with a woman who had just moved to the U.S. She’d visited here for years and even attended university stateside—but she was shocked to learn how much power parents can have in the public school system… and how often we don’t use it.

She said, “I’m surprised parents are allowed to ask the schools so many questions. And even more surprised that they don’t.”

That moment reminded me: the issue isn’t that parents don’t care—it’s that they often don’t know what they’re allowed to ask.

Let’s change that.

Below are the questions and action steps every parent—whether your child is in a public or private school—should know. You can take control of your child’s education. Here’s how.

🧠 What Every Parent Can Ask the School (And Should)

✅ 1. Request Meeting Minutes from Any Parent Group

You have the right to ask for meeting notes from:

• PTA/PTO (Parent-Teacher groups)
• ELAC (English Learner Advisory Committee)
• School Site Council (SSC)
• African American Committees, or ...