TC 2015 Annual Tisch Lecture with Susanna Loeb
Useless information?
How information does and does not help parents reach their goals for their children
Parents play an important role in their children’s education, but there are substantial differences in the home learning experiences of children. While parents’ goals for their children and the resources available in the home contribute to these differences, parents’ knowledge and, even more importantly, their ability to translate knowledge into action are also key factors. The lecture will discuss the barriers to effective parenting using results of research studies including studies of READY4K!, a text messaging program for parents of preschoolers designed to help them support their children’s literacy development. Unlike most low-cost parenting programs, READY4K! had significant positive effects on parents’ home literacy activities and parental involvement in the school (as reported by teachers), as well as children’s performance on an early literacy assessment.
Susanna Loeb is the Barnett Family Professor of Education at Stanford University, faculty director of CEPA Labs, and a co-director of Policy Analysis for California Education. She specializes in education policy, looking at policies and practices that support teachers and school leaders. Her work spans the range of age levels, including early education, K-12 and higher education. Her recent work focuses on information barriers to teaching improvement and parenting. Loeb is a member of the National Board for Education Sciences, a senior fellow at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research, and a member of the National Academy of Education. She holds a doctorate in economics and a master of public policy from the University of Michigan, and a bachelor’s in political science and civil engineering from Stanford University.
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