This month, we’re excited to share powerful new evidence about how families can drive student learning, and why strong school-to-family communication matters more than ever. A new beta pilot test shows FASTalk AI is boosting parent confidence, sparking meaningful at-home learning moments, and strengthening home–school connections. At the same time, national studies and initiatives are shining a light on critical math challenges: Gallup finds that too many parents are left in the dark about their child’s math learning, while the National Math Improvement Project is tackling systemic barriers to ensure millions of students see themselves as capable math learners. Together, these stories underscore the urgent need to center families in the learning journey.
And finally, we hope to see you on the road this October. We’re interested in connecting with you to discuss family engagement at NAFSCE in New Orleans, NCSM in Atlanta, and EdTech Week in NYC.
Vidya Sundaram and Elisabeth O’Bryon
Family Engagement Lab Co-founders
What we're sharing
FASTalk AI Boosts Parent Confidence and Drives Real Engagement
FASTalk AI, developed by Family Engagement Lab, is transforming how families support learning at home, using everyday routines like grocery shopping, bedtime, and car rides as powerful teaching moments.
A new beta test pilot by the International Centre for EdTech Impact (ICEI) confirms:
FASTalk AI is equitable, accessible, and effective
It’s evidence-ready, on the path to ESSA Tier II certification.
Key Outcomes from the ICEI Evaluation:
Increased Confidence: 6 in 10 parents felt more confident supporting learning at home.
Fits Real Life: 75%+ said activities were easy to integrate into routines.
Strong Engagement: Nearly 3 in 4 families engaged weekly or biweekly.
Meaningful Moments: Activities prompted creative conversations and deeper learning connections.
Quick Setup: Families described onboarding as simple and fast
What Parents Are Saying:
“Really quick, really simple, but keeps him engaged.” – Parent of 4th grader
“It’s like working with a learning coach.” – Parent of 2nd grader
Why It Matters for Districts:
FASTalk AI directly supports district instructional priorities by:
Reinforcing curriculum at home with aligned, SMS-based activities
Supporting multilingual learners with equitable access in 100+ languages
Strengthening home–school partnerships through consistent, low-lift engagement
FASTalk AI is Ready For Your District
Let’s talk about how your district can benefit from a pilot.
A Gallup Math Matters Study, supported by the Gates Foundation, highlights a major communication gap between schools and families when it comes to math learning. While just over half of K–12 parents (52%) say they hear about their child’s math lessons at least monthly, this drops sharply at the high school level: only 38% of parents of grades 9–12 students report regular updates, and more than one in four say they hear nothing at all.
Communication about math goals shows a similar pattern, with nearly a quarter of high school parents saying they’ve received no information on their child’s learning objectives. With national math scores in decline and math skills critical for students’ futures, the findings underscore the importance of strengthening school-to-family outreach to ensure parents can support student success.
The National Math Improvement Project (NMIP) is a bold, multi-district initiative focused on raising math achievement for over 2.5 million students across six of the nation’s largest school systems, including New York City, LA, Chicago, Miami-Dade, Houston, and Philadelphia.
NMIP targets three big levers for change: High-quality instructional materials, stronger teacher & leader capacity, and positive math mindsets for students and adults Backed by research and collaboration, the project is tackling widespread challenges — from disconnected curricula to outdated beliefs that “math isn’t for everyone.” By aligning curriculum, strengthening teacher support, and shifting narratives, NMIP is working to ensure all students see themselves as capable math learners.
Where we'll be
This month, we’ll be hitting the road talking about family engagement and inclusive education. Connect with Us
National Assembly for Family Engagement in Education (NAFSCE) — New Orleans, October 8–10, 2025 National convening on family-school-community partnerships.Learn more →
