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The National School Boards Association's Council of Urban Schools of Education (CUBE) has teamed up with the National PTA on a new survey examining parents' perceptions of urban school climate:  What We Think.  The survey's results are generally encouraging:  Parents believe their children's schools are safe; They report that they are actively involved in their children's schools; They trust and feel respected by teachers and administrators; and they believe their children capable of high academic achievement. 

These findings challenge common depictions of urban schools as dangerous places struggling with disaffected students, disgruntled or disengaged parents, and dispirited staff. Critics of urban public schools generally expect parents to abandon these schools en masse, out of either apathy or rage.  The CUBE report suggests that parents are actually far more likely to become willing partners in public school improvement.

This is not to suggest that urban schools don't have work to do to earn more parents' trust--particularly that of black parents.  According to the study, black parents are significantly less likely than parents as a whole to describe their chilren's schools as safe (69.4% vs. 75.3% overall), to agree that teachers respect students (68.8% vs. 77.2% overall), and to believe that teachers are highly qualified (66.9% vs. 70.1% overall).

For an example of one urban district that teamed up with parents and other community members to improve student learning--and gain the broader community's trust--read our story about the Mobile, Alabama public school district.