How Black Parents Can Help Their Children Succeed in School

Black children bring intelligence, creativity and enormous potential into their classrooms. Parents can help protect that potential by creating strong learning habits at home, staying connected to teachers and making sure their children receive the support they deserve.

Differences in test scores and access to educational opportunities are often described as an achievement gap. The National Assessment of Educational Progress continues to track differences between Black and White students in reading and mathematics. These results should never be used to suggest that Black children or their parents are the problem. Unequal resources, school environments, biased discipline and differences in access to experienced teachers can all affect student outcomes.

Parents cannot repair an unequal education system by themselves, but they can become powerful advocates for their children. Research reviewed by the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences connects positive family engagement with stronger grades, attendance, graduation rates and student behavior. The following strategies can help families turn that engagement into meaningful action.

“Educators cannot put our children in a box. One size does not fit every student.”

1Build a Strong Reading Foundation

Reading is one of the most useful learning habits a family can develop. Talk, sing and read with your baby from the beginning. A baby’s hearing begins developing during pregnancy, with many babies beginning to hear sounds at approximately 18 weeks of pregnancy. After birth, hearing familiar words, rhythms and stories supports language-rich interaction between parents and children.

Continue reading aloud even after your child learns to read independently. Older children still benefit from hearing more complex stories, discussing characters and talking about unfamiliar words. Keep age-appropriate books within reach and visit the library regularly. Children should also see themselves and their communities represented in their books. An ethnic book collection, including services such as the one featured in our article about the Just Like Me! book box, can make reading feel more personal and affirming.

2Make Learning Part of Everyday Life

Learning does not have to happen only at a desk. Ask your child to compare prices at the grocery store, measure ingredients while cooking, read road signs or calculate how much time remains before an appointment. These practical moments show children that reading, mathematics, science and problem-solving are connected to real life.

Pay attention to how your child learns best. Some children need to move, build, draw, talk through a problem or see a visual example before a concept makes sense. Barbershop Books demonstrates how literacy can be placed in familiar community spaces and connected with experiences children enjoy. If traditional assignments are not helping your child learn, ask the teacher about hands-on projects, visual supports, tutoring or other instructional approaches.

3Strengthen Your Child’s Racial and Cultural Identity

Black history should not be limited to one month or begin with enslavement. Teach children about Black scientists, artists, educators, inventors, entrepreneurs, activists and community leaders throughout the year. Visit African American museums, attend cultural events, support Black-owned businesses and help your child research Black people who have made meaningful contributions in fields that interest them.

A study involving 733 adolescent Black girls found that racial identity and positive perceptions of the school climate were associated with greater academic motivation. Parents can read a summary from the Journal of Blacks in Higher Education or review the original research indexed by PubMed. The findings apply specifically to the Black girls who participated in the study and should not be treated as proof that racial identity alone determines academic performance.

Cultural pride does not replace academic instruction, school resources or effective teaching. It can, however, help children challenge damaging stereotypes and understand that they belong in every learning environment.

A child who feels secure in their Black identity is better prepared to challenge stereotypes instead of internalizing them.

4Stay Connected to the Classroom

Do not wait until report cards arrive to find out how your child is doing. Ask teachers what skills are being taught, what your child has mastered and where additional support may be needed. Request specific examples of your child’s work instead of relying only on general statements such as “doing fine” or “needs improvement.”

Ask whether your child is reading and performing mathematics at grade level. If there is a concern, find out what intervention the school will provide, how often it will happen and how progress will be measured. Keep copies of emails, report cards, test results, evaluations and learning plans. Written records make it easier to identify patterns and follow up when promised support is delayed.

5Look for Representation and High Expectations

Every child deserves teachers who recognize their ability and hold them to meaningful standards. Research summarized by the Institute of Education Sciences found that Black students who had at least one Black teacher during grades K–3 were 13 percent more likely to graduate from high school and 19 percent more likely to enroll in college than comparable Black students at the same schools.

Parents may not be able to select every teacher, but they can ask schools how they recruit and retain Black educators, how culturally responsive teaching is incorporated and how teachers are trained to recognize bias. You can also introduce your child to Black mentors, tutors, coaches and professionals who reinforce high expectations and expand their vision of what is possible.

For more guidance, read our related coverage about what research reveals about Black parents and education.

6Advocate When Something Does Not Feel Right

Listen carefully when your child says they feel ignored, singled out or treated unfairly. Ask calm, specific questions about what happened, who was present and whether it has happened before. A single misunderstanding may be resolved through a teacher conversation, but repeated patterns may require a meeting with a counselor, principal or district administrator.

Ask schools to explain discipline decisions, academic placements and referrals in writing. If your child needs an evaluation or additional services, submit the request in writing and keep a dated copy. Parents do not have to be educational experts before asking questions. Your knowledge of your child is valuable, and you have the right to request clear explanations about decisions affecting their education.

Parents Are Partners, Not Bystanders

Black parents have always cared deeply about their children’s education. The goal is not to place another burden on families or imply that parents are responsible for correcting systemic inequities. The goal is to help parents recognize the influence they already possess and use it strategically.

Read together, connect learning to everyday life, build cultural pride, communicate with teachers and document concerns. When families, educators and communities share responsibility for student success, Black children are better positioned to learn, grow and pursue their goals without being confined by other people’s expectations.