Navigating the school marketplace can be challenging, even for parents who’ve done their research. That’s why Tuesday afternoon, volunteers with Families Empowered called families on charter waitlists to help inform them of their options.
Quincy Boyd, Regional Director of Families Empowered, assists volunteers at their Keep Learning, Antonio phone banking event on August 14.
“Bringing our community together has always been a point of pride for Families Empowered, and that’s what this phone bank was all about - neighbors helping neighbors to make sure that all San Antonio kids have a chance to succeed,” said Quincy Boyd, regional director of Families Empowered.
By connecting volunteers with their neighbors, Families Empowered seeks to empower the community while making sure that all families are aware of their school options and how to navigate them. This effort comes amidst Families Empowered’s new advertising initiative, Keep Learning, San Antonio, which calls to continue innovation in order to make sure that every student, no matter their zip code, has the chance to succeed.
A recent report from the educational non-profit shows huge demand for public charter seats in San Antonio. Nearly 40,000 families applied to Alamo City charter schools in the last year alone. That’s enough families to equal the third largest district in the San Antonio area.
“San Antonio has made it abundantly clear that parents and students alike want more options, not less, when it comes to education,” Boyd said.
Volunteers reached out to about hundreds of families Tuesday, answering parent questions about the educational marketplace. Families may have applied to one charter network but aren’t aware of other options the city offers, from traditional district school options, public charter schools, or private schools.
“One of the most common questions parents have is what makes a school different from their local neighborhood school?” said volunteer Arnold Hernandez, student recruitment coordinator for New Frontiers Public Schools, a San Antonio charter network.
Arnold Hernandez of New Frontiers Public Schools makes phone calls to waitlisted families at the Keep Learning, San Antonio phone banking event.
“Recently, I’ve heard more parents asking how specific schools deal with bullying,” Hernandez added.
Phone banking was not the end of the week’s activities for Families Empowered. On Saturday, it is throwing a back-to-school bash at Confluence Park at 10 a.m. till 1 p.m. All of San Antonio is invited to come and celebrate the start of a new school year.