Straight Talk about Schools Today: Understand the System and Help Your Child Succeed »

Judy Molland is an award-winning teacher and writer. She is contributing education editor for Dominion Parenting Media (formerly United Parenting Publications), the largest syndicate of parenting magazines in the United States, and has numerous articles featured on Parenthood.com. She has been writing about education for more than ten years.

Schools in the United States are changing, with a teaching focus on core subject areas and basic skills. Funds are getting tighter, program priorities are shifting, and parent involvement is more important than ever. Writing in easy-to-follow Q&A style, an award-winning educator takes you by the hand and guides you through the system: understanding how public and private education works in the United States, choosing a school, making sense of grades and report cards, the No Child Left Behind act, standardized tests, your rights as a parent, and more. Includes a glossary of "edu-speak" terms, resources, and plenty of encouragement.

Children's Literature

Packed with insight, this comprehensive look at schools today is a must read for parents. Whether you are moving your family, enrolling your five year old in kindergarten, or struggling to understand the process of educating today's youth in public education, there is information for you within the pages of Judy Molland's book. As an educator I see parents struggle with the educational jargon and legalese they confront in schools every day. Often times their misunderstandings can result in a lack of participation or aversion to becoming involved in their child's education. Given the chance to better understand their school system, parents may feel more comfortable reaching out to teachers and administration alike. Written in everyday language, this text may be the key to providing parents with the comfort they need to get involved. From making a connection with your child's teacher to understanding Adequate Yearly Progress, it is filled with helpful guidelines and strategies for all parents. School administrators and teacher unions alike should consider providing this text for parents as they discover their school system for the first time. Reviewer: Kimberly O'Meara